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The Little Flowers 



OF 



SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI 



I 




SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI. 

From tlie Paintinjj by Alessandro Moretto in the Gallery at Milan. 



The Little Flowers 

Saint Francis of Aflifi. 



In the Name of Our Lord and Saviour 

JESUS CHRIST, who was crucified, and of His 

Mother the VIRGIN MARY. In this Book 

are contained certain Little Flowers, Miracles, 

and devout Examples of that glorio^is poor 

Follower of Chrift, Saint t rancis, and 

of certain of his holy Companions. 

"/j^ " Told to the Praife of Jefus 

'"^ - Chrift. Amen, 



Exm&httti ixom t!je ^Italian, 

With a Brief Account of the Life of Saint Francis, 

By ABBY LANGDON ALGER. 



BOSTON: 
ROBERTS BROTHERS. 

1887. 



I 




Ta« Library 



flOO 



•*!;.;•« ^ 



Copyright, 1887, 

By Roberts Brothers. 



John Wilson and Son, Cambridge. 



PREFACE, 



SAINT FRANCIS was born in 
1 182, in the little town of Affifi, 
in Umbria, chiefly notable as having 
given him birth. His mother, Ma- 
donna Pica, was of noble race, and 
his father, Peter Bernardone, that is, 
Peter the fon of Bernard, the family 
name being Moriconi, — was a rich mer- 
chant, who was travelling in France 
on bufmefs at the time Francis was 
born. Many flrange tales are told of 
the omens attending the little boy's 
advent into the world. For fome 
time previous, a poor man roamed the 
ftreets of Affifi crying aloud, " Peace 
and profperity ! peace and profper- 
ity ! " His mother was ill for many 
days, nor were her fufferings relieved, 



vi }^vtfatt. 

until by the advice of a pilgrim who 
came that way fhe was laid on a bed 
of flraw in a flable. Thus began that 
likenefs between the life of Francis 
and that of Chrift, which was contin- 
ued throughout. Another flranger ap- 
peared to a6l as godfather, and ftill 
another took the baby in his arms 
and, marking his right fhoulder with a 
crofs, foretold the vi61ory which he was 
to win over the Devil. Madonna Pica 
named her child John, in memory of 
the beloved difciple; but on his fathers 
return with rich profits, he chofe to 
call him Francis, for the country where 
he had been fo fuccefsful. 

The boy was taught by the priefts 
of the parifli, and learned eafily all 
that was taught him, fhowing an ef- 
pecial talent for the language of the 
land from which he took his name. 
As he grew to manhood he was fore- 
mofl in the gayeties of the town, win- 
ning for himfelf the fobriquet of the 
" flower of youth." 

Thomas of Celano, a Francifcan 



^Vtiutt. vii 

brother, and a dear friend of Francis, 
defcribes him thus : " He was of mid- 
dle ftature, rather under than over, 
with an oval face and full but low 
forehead, his eyes dark and clear, 
his hair thick, his eyebrows clofe, a 
ftraight and delicate nofe, a voice foft 
yet keen and fiery; clofe, equal, and 
white teeth ; lips modeft yet fubtle ; a 
black beard not thickly grown; a thin 
neck, fquare fhoulders, fhort arms, 
fmall hands and feet, delicate fkin, 
and little flefh." So elegant was his 
drefs, and fo luxurious were his taftes, 
that his parents often faid, " He is 
more like the fon of a prince than like 
our fon." Still, they were proud of 
his fplendor, and grudged him noth- 
ing, though his charities were as lavifh 
as his pleafures : no beggar ever afked 
of him in vain. 

When he had reached the age of 
tw^enty-four, however, a war broke out 
between Affifi and Perugia. Francis 
was taken prifoner, and for a year 
languifhed in captivity. Returning 



viii preface* 

home, he fuffered from a long and 
tedious illnefs which proved a turn- 
ing-point in his career. He began 
to long for fomething better and 
higher than mere amufement. It 
was the age of knighthood, and his 
firft thought was to redrefs wrong and 
help the weak. He fet out to join 
the forces of the Count de Brienne, 
defcribed as a man of great magnifi- 
cence and liberality; but flopping at 
Spoleto, he was warned in a dream to 
return home, which he did in a ftate 
of melancholy and abforption. His 
merry comrades laughingly ajk:ed if 
he was dreaming of a wife, that he 
was fo fober. " Yes," was the anfwer, — 
" of a wife more noble, more beauti- 
ful, and more rich than anything your 
fancy can conceive." This bride was 
Poverty, whom he was fo foon to 
efpoufe. He now began to devote 
himfelf more entirely to the fick and 
poor, particularly the lepers, of whom 
there were many at that time. Thefe 
wretched beings were fhunned by 



^vtiatt. ix 

every one, and Francis mufl in- 
deed have feemed mad to thofe who 
faw him ftoop to kifs their infe6lious 
forms. 

Going one day to the ruined Church 
of St. Damian's, an inward voice bade 
him repair it. At once he hurried 
home, and his father being away, took 
a quantity of merchandife, which he 
fold, offering the price for the work 
of reftoration. The prieft refufing, 
he threw it in a corner, where it 
lay until the angry Peter Bernardone, 
learning what had happened, came 
to claim it and to imprifon his head- 
ftrong fon. His mother finally freeing 
him, he fought refuge with the prieft 
of St. Damian's, reftoring to his father 
all that he had received from him, 
even his clothes, ftripping himfelf to 
the hair fhirt which he had worn in 
fecret, and renouncing his father for- 
ever. Thenceforth he begged mate- 
rial to repair the church from door 
to door, building it up with his own 
hands, and colle6ling broken fcraps 



of food from the charitable, for his 
maintenance. In this way, in the 
courfe of two years he reflored three 
churches and gained twelve difciples, 
the firft being Bernard of Quintavalle. 
The ftory of their converfion and final 
formation into the Order of Friars 
Minor, Gray Friars, or Francifcan 
Monks, is told in the " Little Flowers " 
which follow. . Within eleven years 
thefe twelve grew^ to more than five 
thoufand. They were vowed to ab- 
je6l poverty, owning abfolutely noth- 
ing, thus differing from the other 
ecclefiaftical bodies then in exiflence. 
Francis next founded the Order of 
Poor Ladies, afterwards known as the 
Poor Clares, in honor of their firfl ab- 
befs, Clara Sciffi, a beautiful heirefs, 
who left her home at the age of fifteen 
to enter upon a religious life. Later 
ftill the third Order was eftablifhed, 
which was open to men and women 
alike, and meant for thofe who lived 
in the w^orld. Thefe three Orders 
fpread rapidly throughout the globe, 



l^tefacc* xi 

Saint Francis travelling even into 
Syria. 

After enduring every privation and 
forrow for many years, as well as 
many namelefs raptures in his fpirit- 
ual intercourfe with God, he faw, as 
he prayed upon a lonely mountain, a 
vifion of Chrift crucified ; and as he 
gazed, his body became ftamped with 
the Stigmata, or marks of the Paffion 
of our Lord, which he thenceforth 
bore until his death, fome two years 
after, Oct. 4, 1226, in the forty-fifth 
year of his age. 

Thechief quality of Saint Francis — 
the central and charafteriftic charm 
which has made him perhaps the beft 
beloved of all the illuftrious members 
of the calendar — is the depth and 
tendernefs of his heart. His gentle 
and generous afife6lion was conftantly 
overflowing on all around him, in 
fympathetic attention, poetic expref- 
fions, and a6ls of endearment. The 
obje6ls of his intenfe and exuberant 
love were not only God, angels, and 



xii jprrtatr* 

men, but alfo animals, birds, infedls, 
and even inanimate objedls, which he 
was wont to addrefs as his brothers 
and fifters, in reference to their com- 
mon origin with himfelf. Many 
charming inftances of his friendfhips 
with fifh, falcons, fwallows, lambs, 
wolves, hares, pheafants, and graffhop- 
pers, may be found in thefe '' Little 
Flowers," and in the various Lives of 
him. 

He was firfl to eflablilh the cuftom 
ftill prevalent in Catholic countries, 
of reprefenting the Nativity in the 
liable at Bethlehem, at Chriftmas 
time, before the altar. He was alfo 
among the earliefl of Italian poets; 
for in thofe days Italian was only 
the vulgar tongue, Latin or the foft 
Proven9al being ufed for literary pur- 
pofes. He improvifed many ardent 
hymns and fongs, which he taught to 
his followers, the mofl; widely known 
being the " Canticle to the Sun," or 
" Song of the Creatures," and " Love 
fets my Heart on Fire." 



^Vttatt. xiii 

Many full and interefting Lives of 
Saint Francis have been written in 
various tongues, the beft being thofe 
by Thomas of Celano and by Saint 
Bonaventura, — his friends and difci- 
ples, — by Father Luke Wadding, by 
Mrs. Oliphant, by M. Chavin de Malin, 
and by a Religious of the Order of 
Poor Clares. The " Little Flowers " 
are a feries of legends which were 
colle6led fome two hundred years 
after his death, having been handed 
down by word of inouth until that 
time. They form an excellent biog- 
raphy of him and his difciples, told 
with quaint fimplicity and grace. 
The tranflator has tried to preferve 
the naivete and antique flavor of the 
original in the prefent verfion. The 
work being fo famous and favorite a 
claffic in Italy and France, it is fome- 
what fmgular that it has never until 
now been prefented in Englifh. 

A. L. A. 

NoTjember^ 1887. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

PAGE 

In the Name of Our Lord and Saviour Jefus 
Chrift, Who was crucified, and of His 
Mother the Virgin Mary. In this Book are 
contained certain Little Flowers, Miracles, 
and Devout Examples of that glorious poor 
Follower of Chrift, Saint Francis, and of 
certain of his holy Companions. Told to 
the Praife of Jefus Chrift. Amen ... 7 



CHAPTER IL 

Of Brother Bernard of Quintavalle, the firft 
Companion of Saint Francis 9 



CHAPTER III. 

How for the evil Thoughts which Saint Francis 
had regarding Brother Bernard, he com- 
manded that fame Brother Bernard that 
three Times he ftiould place his Feet upon 
his Neck and upon his Mouth 16 



xvi Contents. 



CHAPTER IV. 



PAGB 



How the Angel of the Lord put a Queflion unto 
Brother EHas, the Keeper of a certain 
Convent in the Vale of Spoleto. and for- 
afmuch as Brother Elias made Anfwer 
haughtily, departed thence and went forth 
unto St. James of Compoltella, where he 
met with Brother Bernard and told his Tale 
unto him 21 

CHAPTER V. 

How that Saint, Brother Bernard of AlTili, 
was defpatched by Saint Francis to Bo- 
logna, and there took up his abode ... 29 

CHAPTER VI. 

How Saint Francis bleffed Brother Bernard 
and made him his Vicar when he came to 
pafs away from this Life 33 

CHAPTER VII. 

How Saint Francis failed forty Days and forty 
Nights in an Illand of the Lake of Perugia, 
eating no more but half a Loaf 37 

CHAPTER VIII. 

How Saint Francis and Brother Leo, as they 
journeyed, difcourfed of Perfedl Blifs . . 40 



Contents* xvii 

CHAPTER IX. 

PA6£ 

How Saint Francis taught Brother Leo to 
make Anfwer unto Him ; and He could 
never Speak fave the Contrary of that 
which Saint Francis Willed 44 

CHAPTER X. 

How Brother Maximus Mockingly faid unto 
Saint Francis that the World was at his 
Feet, and he made Anfwer that this was 
by the Grace of God, and a Difgrace to 
the World 48 

CHAPTER XI. 

How Saint Francis caufed Brother Maximus 
to turn himfelf about, and then departed 
unto Sienna 50 

CHAPTER Xn. 

How Saint Francis bellowed on Brother Maxi- 
mus the offices of Gate-Keeper, Almoner, 
and Cook : then at the Prayer of the other 
Brothers deprived him of them - - » » 55 

CHAPTER Xni. 

How Saint Francis and Brother Maximus laid 
the Bread which they had begged upon a 
Stone befide a Well, and Saint Francis 
loudly praifed Poverty. Then he prayed 



• • • 



xviu (tonttntn. 

unto God and Saint Peter and Saint Paul 
that they might enamour Him of divine 
Poverty ; and how Saint Peter and Saint 
Paul appeared unto Him ^S 



CHAPTER XIV. 

How Saint Francis, difcourfing of God with 
his Brethren, He appeared in their Midft . 64 



CHAPTER XV. 

How Saint Clara ate with Saint Francis and 
with his Brother Monks in St. Mary of 
the Angels 6s 



CHAPTER XVI. 

How Saint Francis received the Advice of 
Saint Clara and of Holy Brother Sylvefter, 
that he fhould go forth and preach, con- 
verting the People ; and he created the 
Third Order, and preached to the Birds 
and lilenced the young Swallows ... 69 



CHAPTER XVII. 

How a Francifcan Child, while Saint Francis 
prayed by Night, faw Chrift and the Virgin 
Mary, and many other Saints with Him . y6 



Contents. xix 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



TAGE 



Of the marvellous Chapter held by Saint 
Francis in the Church of St. Mary of the 
Angels, where were affembled more than 
five thoufand of the Brethren .... 78 



CHAPTER XIX. 

How the Grapes in the Vineyard of the Prieft 
of Rieti, in whofe Houfe Saint Francis 
prayed, were trampled and plucked by the 
many People which came thither to him ; 
and then miraculoully made more Wine 
than ever before, even as Saint Francis had 
promifed. And how the Lord revealed to 
Saint Francis that Paradife Ihould be his 
lof . . Ss 



CHAPTER XX. 

Of a very fair Viiion, feen by a young Friar, 
who held the Cowl in fuch abomination 
that He was difpofed to lay afide his Habit 
and forfake the Order 90 



CHAPTER XXI. 

Of the Moil Holy Miracle, which Saint Francis 
performed, when he converted the very fierce 
Wolf at Gubbio 93 



CHAPTER XXII. 

PAGE 

How Saint Francis tamed the wild Turtle- 
Doves 99 

CHAPTER XXIIL 

How Saint Francis fet free the Friar who 
had finned with the aid of the Devil . . . loi 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

How Saint Francis converted the Sultan of 
Babylon to the Faith 103 

CHAPTER XXV. 

How Saint Francis miraculoufly healed the 
Leper in Body and in Soul ; and that which 
the Soul fpake, afcending into Heaven . .106 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

How Saint Francis converted three Thieves 
and Murderers, and made them Brethren ; 
and of the moil glorious Vifion beheld of 
one of them who was a moll holy Brother .111 

CHAPTER XXVII. 

How Saint Francis converted two Scholars of 
Bologna and made Friars of them ; and 
then rid one of them of a fore Temptation 
which befet him 124 



(Contents. xxl 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 



PAGE 



Of an Ecftafy which feized upon Brother Ber- 
nard and held him from Matins even until 
Nones, he being all that fpace unconfcious 
of Aught 129 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

How the Devil ofttimes did appear in the Form 
of One Crucified unto Brother Rufus, telling 
him that all his Labor was vain, inafmuch 
as he was not chofen unto Eternal Life : 
Saint Francis learning this through Divine 
Revelation, fhowed Brother Rufus the 
Error in which he lay 13 [ 



CHAPTER XXX. 

Of the glorious Sermon which Saint Francis 
and Brother Rufus preached at Affiii . .138 

CHAPTER XXXI. 

How Saint Francis duly knew the fecret Souls 
of all his Brethren 141 

CHAPTER XXXII. 

How Brother Maximus entreated of Chrift the 
Virtue of Meeknefs 143 



xxii €onUntu. 

CHAPTER XXXIII. 

PAGE 

How Saint Clara, at the Command of the 

Pope, bleffed the Bread which was on the | 

Table : whereat on every Loaf was feen i 

the fign of the Holy Crofs 146 ] 

i 

CHAPTER XXXIV. ' 

How Saint Louis, King of France, went in Per- ^ 

fon, in the Guife of a Pilgrim, to Perugia, j 

to vifit Holy Brother Guy 148 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

"i 
How, being infirm, Saint Clara was borne by a ,j 

Miracle unto the Church of Saint Francis, \ 

upon Chriflmas Night, and heard Mafs ] 

therein 151 ; 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 

How Saint Francis fet forth to Brother Leo 
a fair Villon which he faw 153 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 

How Jefus Chrifl the Blefled, at the requeft of 
Saint Francis, did convert a rich and noble 
Knight, and make him a Monk, the Same 
having made great Proffers and paid much 
Honor unto Saint Francis 155 



atonUntn. xxiii 

CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

PAGa 
How Saint Francis had fpiritual Knowledge 

that Brother Elias was damned, and was 
deltined to die outfide of the Order ; where- 
fore at Brother Elias' Entreaty He prayed 
to God in his Behalf and was heard . . .159 

CHAPTER XXXIX. 

Of the Marvellous Sermon which was preached 
in the Confiftory by Saint Antony of Padua, 
a Gray Friar 163 

CHAPTER XL. 

Of the Miracle which God performed when 
Saint Antony, being at Rimini, preached 
to the Fifhes of the Sea 165 

CHAPTER XLI. 

How the Venerable Brother Simon freed from 
fore Temptation a Brother which for that 
fame caufe was about to forfake the Order . 169 

CHAPTER XLII. 

Of the fair Miracles which God wrought 
through thofe Holy Brethren, Brother Wel- 
come, Brother Peter of Monticello, and 
Brother Conrad of Offida : and how Brother 



XXIV (Konttnts* 



PAGE 



Welcome bore a Leper fifteen Miles in 
molt brief Space ; and to the one fpake 
Saint Michael, and to the other came 
the Virgin Mary and laid her Son in his 
Arms 174 

CHAPTER XLIII. 

How Brother Conrad of Offida did convert 
a young Monk who affli6ted the other 
Friars. And how the faid young Monk, 
coming to die, did appear to the faid Brother 
Conrad, entreating that he would pray for 
him : and how he fet him free by his Prayers 
from the very great Pains of Purgatory . .179 

CHAPTER XLIV. 

How the Mother of Chrilt and Saint John the 
Evangelift did appear unto Brother Con- 
rad, and did tell him which of they twain 
did grieve moit fore for the Paffion of 
Chrift 182 

CHAPTER XLV. 

Of the Converfion and Life and Miracles 
and Death of that holy Brother, John of 
the Pen 185 

CHAPTER XLVL 

How Brother Peace, being at Prayer, faw the 
Soul of his Brother, Brother Humility, 
afcend to Heaven 193 



Contents. xxv 

CHAPTER XLVII. 

PAGE 

Of that Holy Monk to whom the Mother of 
Chrift appeared when he was infirm, and 
brought him three Boxes of Eledluary . .196 



CHAPTER XLVIII. 

How Brother James of Mafia faw in a Vifion 
all the Gray Friars of the World, after the 
Fafliion of a Tree, and did know the Vir- 
tues and the Merits and the Vices of every 
one 199 



CHAPTER XLIX. 

How Chrifi; appeared to Brother John of 
Vernia « 206 



CHAPTER L. 

How, faying Mafs upon All Souls' Day, Brother 
John of Vernia faw many Souls fet free 
from Purgatory 214 



CHAPTER LI. 

Of the Holy Brother James of Fallerone ; and 
how, before he died, he did appear to 
Brother John of Vernia 216 



XXVI 



etontents. 



CHAPTER IvII. 



PAGE 



Of the Viiion of Brother John of Vernia, 
wherein he knew the whole Order of the 
Holy Trinity 220 



CHAPTER LIII. 



How, faying Mafs, Brother John of Vernia 
fell as one Dead 222 



The Little Flowers 

OF 

Saint Francis of AfEfi. 



CHAPTER I. 

In the Name of Our Lord and Saviour Jefus 
Chriji, Who was crucified, and of His 
Mother the Virgin Mary, In this Book are 
contained certaifi Little Flowers^ Miracles, 
and devout Exa7nples of that glorious poor 
Follower of Chrifl, Saint Francis, and of 
certain of his holy Companions. Told to the 
Fraife of Jefus Chrifl, Amen, 

WE have firft to confider that the 
glorious Saint Francis in all the a6ls 
of his life was like unto Chrift, our bleffed 
Lord ; for even as Chrift in the beginning 
of His preaching chofe to Himfelf twelve 
Apoftles who fhould renounce all worldly- 
things and follow after Him in poverty 

and 



8 2Ci)e atttle jflo\3}tVH of 

and in other virtuous deeds, even fo Saint 
Francis chofe in the beginning of the foun- 
dation of his Order twelve companions, 
vowed to the moft abjeft poverty ; and alfo 
even as one of the twelve Apoflles of Chrift, 
reproved of God, went out and hanged him- 
felf by the neck, fo one of the twelve Compan- 
ions of Saint Francis, the fame which was 
called Brother John of the Chapel, did turn 
apoftate, and finally go out and hang himfelf 
by the neck. And this is a worthy exam- 
ple for the eleft, and a fubje6l for fear and 
humihty, confidering that none can be fure 
of continuing unto the end in the grace of 
God. And as thofe holy Apoftles were a 
wonder to all men for their fan6lity and 
humility, and were filled full with the Holy 
Ghoft, fo too the moft holy companions of 
Saint Francis were men of fo much fane- 
tity, that, from the days of the Apoftles 
down to the prefent time, the world has 
known no fuch wonderful and holy men, 
infomuch as a certain one among them 
was fnatched up into the third Heaven, like 
Saint Paul, and that was Brother Guy; a 
certain one among them, that is Brother 
Philip Long, was touched upon the lips 
by an Angel with a living coal, as was the 

Prophet 



<Saint iFrancis oC ^nnisu 9 

Prophet Ifaiah ; a certain one among them, 
and that was Brother Silvefter, talked with 
God, as might one friend with another, 
even as did Mofes ; a certain one among 
them did rife by fubtlety of intelle6l even 
unto the light of divine wifdom, like unto 
the Eagle, which is John the Evangelift, 
and this was Brother Bernard, the moft 
humble of men, who did expound the Holy 
Scriptures moft learnedly ; a certain one 
among them was fanclified of God, and 
canonized in heaven while ftill living upon 
this earth, and that was Brother Rufus, a 
gentleman of Affifi. And thus were all priv- 
ileged to receive fingular figns of fandtity, 
even as Ihall be fet forth in the following 
pages. 



CHAPTER n. 

0/ Brother Bernard of Quintavalle^ the firjl 
Companion of Saint Francis. 

THE firft companion of Saint Francis 
was one Brother Bernard of Affifi, the 
fame being converted in this fafhion ; Saint 
Francis being ftill clad in fecular garb, al- 
though 



lo ar^t Utttle jFlotoeris of 

though he had already renounced the world, 
and went about defpifing all vain fhow, and 
mortifying his flefh by manifold forms of 
penitence, infomuch that of many he was 
held to be half mad, and was fcorned as a 
fool and driven forth with ftones and loath- 
ing alike by his family and by ftrangers, and 
he amidft all infults and injuries remained 
paffive, as if deaf and dumb, — Bernard of 
Affifi, who was one of the moft noble, rich, 
and wife men of that city, began prudently 
to confider Saint Francis' exceeding con- 
tempt for this world and his great patience 
amid infults ; how that for the fpace of two 
long years, being thus held in abomination 
and defpifed of all men, he feemed ever but 
the more fteadfaft in his faith. He began 
to think and to fay to himfelf, *'It can in no 
wife be but that this Brother is poffeffed of 
the great grace of God;" and he invited 
him to fup with him that night and to lodge 
with him. And Saint Francis accepted 
his proffers, and fupped and lodged with 
him. And then did Bernard ponder in 
his heart and meditate upon his fan6lity; 
whereupon he ordered a bed to be laid for 
him in his own chamber, wherein a lamp 
ever burned at night. And Saint Francis 

defiring 



cSatnt ffvantin of ^nniuu ii 

defiring to hide his great fanftity, imme- 
diately that he entered the chamber, threw 
himfelf upon his bed and feigned fleep ; 
and even fo did Bernard, and after a cer- 
tain fpace he turned himfelf over and began 
to fnore loudly, as he were fleeping heavily. 
For the which thing Saint Francis, truly 
believing that Bernard flept in his firft 
flumbers, arofe from the bed and fell him- 
felf upon his knees, lifting both hands and 
eyes to heaven, and with the utmoft fervor 
and devotion he exclaimed, " My God ! my 
God ! '' and thus crying and weeping much, 
he remained until morning, repeating ever, 
" My God ! my God ! '' and nought elfe ; 
and thus fpake Saint Francis, contemplat- 
ing and admiring the excellency of the 
Divine Majefty Which had deigned to de- 
fcend to pardon a perifhing world ; where- 
fore Saint Francis became a poor beggar 
and devoted his life to feeking out fome 
means of falvation for his foul and for the 
fouls of others. And flill illumined by the 
Holy Ghoft, or elfe indeed by the fpirit 
of prophecy, forefeeing the great things 
which 'the Lord was to do for him and for 
his Order, and confidering his own infuffi- 
ciency and little virtue, he cried aloud and 

prayed 



12 arjjt mult jFlctoeris of 

prayed unto God that of His Charity and 
Omnipotence, without which human weak- 
nefs availeth nought, He would fupply, aid, 
and complete the work which man alone 
could not achieve. 

Bernard, feeing by the light of the lamp 
these moft pious a6ls of Saint Francis, and 
confidering devoutly the words which he 
uttered, was touched and infpired of the 
Holy Ghoft to change his life ; infomuch 
that at dawn of day he called unto Saint 
Francis and faid thus : " Brother Francis, 
my heart is greatly minded to forfake 
the world and to follow after thee in all 
things that thou (halt command me/* Hear- 
ing this, Saint Francis rejoiced in fpirit 
and fpake thus: *' Bernard, this of which 
you fpeak is fo great and difficult a talk 
that we muft needs take counfel concern- 
ing it with Our Lord Jefus Chrift, and 
pray Him that it may pleafe Him to fhow 
us His fovereign will in the fame, and to 
teach us how we may execute it ; and there- 
fore let us go forth together to the Epif- 
copal Palace, where we may find a right- 
eous prieft, and we will bid him fay a mafs ; 
there we will remain and pray even unto 
the third hour of the day, entreating God 

that 



Saint iFrancts of ^uniuu 13 

that even in the three openings of the Miffal 
He will fet forth to us the way which it 
ftiall pleafe Him to have us go/' 

Bernard replied that thefe things liked 
him well. Thus they fet forth and came 
unto the Bifhop's Palace ; and there hav- 
ing heard the Mafs, and remained abforbed 
in prayer even unto the third hour of the 
day, the prieft, at the petition of Saint 
Francis, took up the Miffal, and making 
the fign of the moft Holy Crofs, did 
open it three times in the name of Our 
Lord Jefus Chrifb ; and at the firft opening 
there appeared thefe words, which Chrifl 
fpake in the Gofpel unto the young man who 
alked of Him the way to be perfe6l : " If 
thou wilt be perfe6l, go and fell that thou 
haft and give to the poor, and come and 
follow Me." At the fecond opening there 
appeared thefe words uttered by Chrift to 
the Apoftles when He fent them forth to 
preach : " Provide neither gold, nor filver, 
nor brafs in your purfes, nor fcrip for your 
journey, neither two coats, neither fhoes, 
nor yet ftaves ; '' defiring thereby to teach 
them that they fhould fet all their truft 
in God, and bend their whole thoughts to 
the preaching of the Holy Gofpel ; at the 

third 



14 settle ILtttIt jFlotoers of 

third opening of the Miffal there appeared 
thefe words which Chrift fpake : " If any 
man will come after Me, let him deny 
himfelf, and take up his crofs, and follow 
Me." 

Then faid Saint Francis to Bernard, 
''Behold the counfel which Chrift hath 
given us. Go therefore and do that which 
you have heard ; and bleffed be Our Lord 
Jefus Chrift, which hath ftooped to fhow 
us the way of His gofpel." Hearing this, 
Bernard went out and fold all that that he 
had, — and he was very rich, — and with 
great joy did divide all his wealth among 
widows and orphans, among prifons and 
monafteries, and among hofpitals and pil- 
grims ; and in all things was aided faithfully 
and providently of Saint Francis. 

And a certain man, whofe name was 
Silvefter, feeing that Saint Francis gave 
fo much money to the poor, and continued 
to give large fums, pinched by avarice, faid 
to Saint PVancis, " Never yet have you 
paid me all that you owe me for thofe 
ftones that you did buy to repair the church ; 
now therefore that you have money, pay." 
Then Saint Francis, marvelling much at 
his avarice, and loath to contend with him, 

like 



Saint ^vmtin of ^nninu 15 

like unto a true obferver of the Holy Gof- 
pel, did ftretch forth his hand into the lap 
of Bernard, and drawing it out full of 
money, caft the fame into the lap of Sil- 
vefter, faying, " If more you defire, yet 
more will I give you/* Silvefter being 
content with that that he had, went away 
and returned to his own houfe ; but at 
evening, pondering on that which he had 
done that day, and reproaching himfelf for 
his avarice, confidering the fervor of Ber- 
nard and the fan6lity of Saint Francis, 
the following night, and for yet two other 
nights, God fent him this rare vifion : that 
from the mouth of Saint Francis there 
iffued forth a crofs of gold, the top of 
which reached even unto Heaven, and the 
arms of which ftretched from the Eaft 
even unto the Weft. Becaufe of this vifion 
he gave away for love of God all that that 
he had, and became one of the Gray Friars ; 
and fuch were his fan6lity and grace while 
in the Order, that he fpake with God even 
as one friend with another, as Saint Francis 
many times experienced, and as is by him 
fet forth in thefe pages. 

Bernard likewife received great grace 
from God, forafmuch as he was often tranf- 

ported 



1 6 Kf^t acttle iFlotoers of 

ported in the contemplation of God; and 
Saint Francis faid of him that he was wor- 
thy of all reverence, and that he was the 
true founder of this Order, inafmuch as he 
was the firft who forfook the world, keeping 
nothing for himfelf, but giving all to Chrift's 
poor ; and he fet an example of Chriftian 
poverty, offering himfelf naked to the arms 
of Chrift crucified ; for w^hich thing may he 
be bleffed in faecula faeculorum. Amen. 



CHAPTER III. 

How for the evil Thoughts which Saint Francis 
had regardi?ig Brother Bernard, he commanded 
that fame Brother Bernard that three Times 
he flioiild place his Feet upon his Neck and upon 
his Mouth. 

THAT moft devout fervant of the Crofs, 
Saint Francis, from fevere penance 
and conftant tears had become almoft blind 
and faw but little. Upon one occafion he 
left the place where he abode and went 
to that place where Brother Bernard fo- 
journed, to fpeak with him of divine things. 
And coming to that place he learned that 

the 



Saint iFrancis of ^nninu 17 

the Brother was at prayer in the wood, 
rapt, and conjoined with God. Then Saint 
Francis went forth into that wood and 
called aloud, faying, *' Come hither and 
fpeak to this blind beggar." And Brother 
Bernard anfwered him not, forafmuch as, 
being a man greatly given to meditation, 
his mind was abforbed in the contempla- 
tion of God ; and he was ftrangely favored 
in converfe with God, as Saint Francis had 
ofttimes proven, and therefore did he defire 
to have fpeech with him. After a certain 
fpace he called unto him a fecond and 
even a third time after the fame fafhion ; 
and never once did Brother Bernard heed 
or hear his voice ; neither did he make any 
anfwer, nor came he forth to meet him ; 
fo that Saint Francis departed no little 
difconfolate, and marvelling and lamenting 
in his own mind that Brother Bernard, 
three times called, came not forth to him. 
Journeying thence with thefe thoughts. 
Saint Francis, having gone but a little way, 
faid unto his companion, "Await me here.'* 
And he went afide into a folitary place 
and fell to praying, befeeching God that 
He would reveal to him wherefore Brother 
Bernard made not anfwer unto him. And 

ftanding 



1 8 JEJe aettlc iFlotoeris of 

Handing there, he heard a voice from God 
which fpake thefe words : " O poor weak 
foul, why art thou difturbed ? Should man 
leave God for his fellow man ? Brother 
Bernard, when you cried unto him, was 
conjoined with Me, and hence he could 
not come to thee, neither could he make 
anfwer unto thee ; therefore marvel not 
that he anfwered thee not, fince his foul 
was fo far removed from his body that he 
heard not any of thy words/' Saint Fran- 
cis, having this anfwer from God, imme- 
diately returned again with much fpeed to 
Brother Bernard, humbly to accufe himfelf 
of the evil thoughts which he had cherilhed 
towards him. And feeing him draw nigh, 
Brother Bernard went out to meet him 
and fell down before him ; and then Saint 
Francis raifed him up, and with all humil- 
ity told his thoughts, and the trouble which 
he had felt concerning him, and how that 
God had made anfwer unto him in the mat- 
ter ; hence he concluded thus : *' I charge 
you by your facred vow of obedience that 
you do do the things which I fhall com- 
mand you." Brother Bernard, fearing left 
Saint Francis fhould require of him fome 
exceffive thing, as was his wont, made honeft 

endeavor 



<Satnt jfvantiu of ^nninu 19 

endeavor to avoid this obedience, anfwering 
thus : " I am prepared to obey you meekly, 
if you will promife me to do that which 
I in turn fliall command of you." And 
Saint Francis promifing him, Brother Ber- 
nard faid. '' Speak, father ; bid me what 
you would have me to do/' Then faid 
Saint Francis : " I command you, by your 
facred vow of obedience, that, to punifh my 
prefumption and the boldnefs of my heart, 
now as I throw myfelf flat upon the ground 
you place one foot upon my neck and the 
other upon my mouth, and thus fliall you 
pafs three times over my body, crying 
fliame upon me and reviling me ; and more 
efpecially fliall you cry unto me, ' Lie there, 
thou vile fon of Peter Bernardone ; whence 
hafb thou acquired fuch pride, vileft of all 
creatures that thou art ? ' '' Hearing this. 
Brother Bernard, hard as was his tafk, yet 
for the fake of his facred vow of obedience, 
as courteoufly as he might, did fulfil the 
will of Saint Francis, even as he had com- 
manded him ; and this done. Saint Francis 
faid : *' Do you command me now in turn 
whatfoever you wfll that I fliall do, inaf- 
much as I have promifed obedience." Then 
faid Brother Bernard, " By your facred vow 

of 



20 srse %ittU ^lo\ntvH of 

of obedience I charge you that as many 
times as we may hap to be in company 
you do reprove me and correft me fharply 
for my fins." At which thing Saint Fran- 
cis marvelled greatly, feeing that Brother 
Bernard was a man of great fanftity whom 
he held in much reverence, nor did he hold 
him cenfurable for any fin whatfoever. And 
although from that time forth Saint Francis 
ftrove to fpend much time with him in ac- 
cordance with his vow of obedience, never 
any word of reproof or blame paffed his 
lips toward one whom he knew to be a man 
of fuch great fan6lity ; but as often as he 
defired to fee him, or indeed to hear him 
converfe with God, as fpeedily as might be 
he went forth unto him ; and it was moft 
devout to fee with how great love and rev- 
erence and humility Father Saint Francis 
ufed to fpeak with Brother Bernard his firft- 
born fon. To the praife and glory of Jefus 
Chrifl;, and of that poor Chriftian, Francis. 
Amen. 



<Satnt ^vmtin of ^nninu 21 



CHAPTER IV. 

Ifow the Angel of the Lo7'd put a Quejiion unto 
Brother Elias, the Keeper of a certain Coiivent 
in the Vale of Spoleto, and forafmuch as 
Brother Elias made Anfwer haughtily^ de- 
parted thence and went forth unto St. James 
of Co7npofiella, where he met with Brother 
Bernard and told his Tale unto him, 

AT the beginning and firft undertaking 
of the Order, when the Friars were 
but few, and but little land had been ac- 
quired, Saint Francis, from a fpirit of devo- 
tion, did go to St. James of Gahcia, and in 
his train were certain Brethren, of whom 
one was Brother Bernard. And travelling 
thus their road, they met a poor fick beg- 
gar, having pity upon whom, Saint Francis 
faid to Brother Bernard: *' Son, I befeech 
you, ftay here and ferve this fick man.'* 
And Brother Bernard, humbly kneeling 
and bowing his head, yielded obedience 
to the Holy Father and remained in that 
fpot ; and Saint Francis with his compan- 
ions went his way unto St. James. Coming 
thither and fpending the night in prayer 

within 



22 STiie ILtttle jflotoetis of 

within the Church of St. James, it was re- 
vealed of God to Saint Francis that he was 
deftined to acquire much land throughout 
the world, inafmuch as his Order was def- 
tined to fpread and to grow even unto a 
vaft multitude of Monks ; and in accord- 
ance with this revelation Saint Francis 
forthwith began to acquire land in that 
fame region. And travelling homeward by 
that felfsame way he came, Saint Francis 
met with Brother Bernard and the fick 
man with whom he left him, healed and 
made quite whole ; hence Saint Francis 
granted Brother Bernard in the enfuing 
year that he alfo fhould vifit St. James. 

And thus Saint Francis returned into 
the Vale of Spoleto. And here he fojourned 
in a defolate place, he and Brother Maxi- 
mus and Brother Elias and others. And 
every man among them ftrove mightily left 
he ftiould pefter or annoy Saint Francis as 
he prayed ; and this they did for the great 
reverence which they bare him, and for- 
afmuch as they were well aware that God 
made known unto him great wonders in 
his prayers. It befell one day that Saint 
Francis being at prayer in the wood, a 
Beauteous Youth arrayed for a journey came 

to 



Saint jFtancis ot ^uuiuu 23 

to the door of that place wherein he ftayed, 
and knocked fo often and fo loud and for 
fo long a fpace, that much the broth- 
ers marvelled among themfelves at fuch 
unwonted noife. Brother Maximus went 
out and oped the door and faid to that 
youth, " Whence come you, O Son, fmce it 
feems you never did come hither yet, inaf- 
much as you knock thus contrary to all 
ufe ?'' The youth made anfwer: " And how 
Ihould I knock ? " Then faid Brother Max- 
imus, " Knock thrice, the one knock follow- 
ing flovvly after the other ; then wait fo long 
as until the Brother fhall have faid a Pa- 
ternoster and come unto you ; and if after 
that fpace he come not, knock yet once 
again." The young man anfwered, " My 
hafhe is exceeding great, forafmuch as I 
have a long journey to make, and am come 
hither to fpeak with Brother Francis ; but 
he now is in the wood loft in a mufe, and 
hence I will not vex him ; but go call me 
hither Brother Elias, to whom I would put 
but one queftion only, fmce I hear that 
he is very wife." Brother Maximus went 
in and bade Brother Elias go out to the 
young man ; and he waxed angry and 
would not go. At which thing Brother 

Maximus 



24 sri)e Eittle jFIoiJotts of 

Maximus knew not what to do, neither 
what anfwer he Ihould make to him, inaf- 
much as faying that Brother EHas could 
not come, he fpake falfely ; faying he was 
vexed in fpirit and would not come, he 
feared left he ftiould fet an evil example. 
And Brother Maximus lingering thus, the 
young man knocked yet again as before, 
and in a little time Brother Maximus re- 
turned to the gate, and faid to the young 
man, " Why heed you not my counfels in 
your knocking?" The young man an- 
fwered : " Brother Elias comes not unto me ; 
go therefore and fay to Brother Francis 
that I am come hither to fpeak with him ; 
but forafmuch as I would not come againft 
him in his praying, let him bid Brother 
Elias come out to me/' And then Brother 
Maximus went in to Saint Francis, who 
was praying in the thick wood with his face 
lift up to heaven, and he delivered the 
young man's meffage and the anfwer of 
Brother Elias ; and that young man was 
the Angel of the Lord in the likenefs of a 
Man. Then Saint Francis, removing not 
from his place, neither cafting down his 
eyes, faid to Brother Maximus : " Go, fay 
unto Brother Elias, by his vow of obedience 

I 



Saint iFtancti^ of ^uhibu 25 

I charge him that he fhall go forthwith to 
that young man." Brother Elias, hearing 
Saint Francis' charge of obedience, went 
out to the gate greatly troubled, and with 
fury and noife did open it, and fpake to the 
young man, faying, '' What would you with 
me ? " The young man made anfwer, fay- 
ing, " Beware, Brother, left you be troubled 
in fpirit even as you feem ; for anger clouds 
the mind, letting it not fee the Truth/' 
Then faid Brother Elias, ^'Tell me what 
you would with me/' The young man 
made anfwer, " I alk you whether it be 
lawful for followers of the Holy Scrip- 
tures to eat that which is fet before them, 
even as Chrift fpake to his difciples ; and 
I afk you alfo whether it be lawful for 
any man to fet before them aught that is 
contrary to Chriflian freedom?" Brother 
Elias made anfwer loftily : " Well might I 
anfwer your queftion, but I will not do fo ; 
go your way." The young man faid, " Bet- 
ter can I anfwer this queftion than can you." 
Then Brother Elias, vexed and angered, 
clofed the gate and went thence. Going 
in, he began to ponder upon the faid quef- 
tions, and to doubt within himfelf concern- 
ing them, and he knew not how to folve 

them 



26 SClje acttle jFIotoers of 

them, notwithftanding that he was Vicar- 
General of the Order, and had commanded 
and writ in the Rule, contrary to the gof- 
pel and contrary to the Rule of Saint Fran- 
cis, that no brother of the Order fhould eat 
meat ; fo that the faid queftion was ex- 
preffly direfted againft him. Thus, know- 
ing not how to diffipate his doubts, and 
confidering the modefty of the Youth, and 
how that he had faid He could better anfvver 
the queftion than he, he turned back to the 
gate and opened it to aik of the Youth the 
aforefaid queftion ; but he had already jour- 
neyed thence, forafmuch as the proud fpirit 
of Brother Elias was not worthy to hold 
converfe with the Angel. 

This done. Saint Francis, to whom all 
things were revealed of God, returned from 
the wood, and with a loud voice reviled 
Brother Elias, faying, " 111 have you done, 
O proud Brother Elias, for you have driven 
hence from our midft holy Angels who 
came hither to counfel and inftru6l. I tell 
you that I fear exceeding much left your 
pride lead you not forth at laft from this 
Order." And even fo it fell out, as Saint 
Francis had faid, inafmuch as he died out- 
fide the Order. 

In 



Saint jfvuntin of mnninu 27 

In that fame day and in the felfsame 
hour when that Angel departed thence, He 
appeared in the felfsame form unto Brother 
Bernard, who was travelling back from St. 
James, and ftood on the fhores of a vaft 
ftream, and greeted him in his own tongue, 
faying, " God grant you His peace, O good 
Brother." And good Brother Bernard, 
marvelling much, and confidering the fair 
face of the Youth and the fpeech of his own 
land with that peaceful greeting and joy- 
ous countenance, he afked him : " Whence 
come you, good Youth ? '* The Angel an- 
fwering faid, *' I come from that fame place 
where dwells Saint Francis, and I travelled 
thither to have fpeech of him ; but I could 
not, he being in the thick woods loft in 
contemplation of things divine, and I was 
loath to vex him. And in that fame place 
dwell alfo Brother Maximus and Brother 
Guy and Brother Elias ; and Brother Max- 
imus bade me knock at the gate like unto 
a Friar ; but Brother Elias, although at 
firft he would not anfwer me concerning 
the queftion which I put to him, yet after 
did repent him fore and would fain have 
heard me and feen me and he could not." 
After thefe words the Angel fpake to 

Brother 



28 Ei)e mttlt jFlotoev^ of 

Brother Bernard, faying, "Why crofs you 
not over yonder ftream ? " Brother Ber- 
nard made anfwer : " Forafmuch as I fear 
the dangers of the deep waters which I 
fee.'* The Angel faid, " We will pafs over 
together, nothing doubting/' And He took 
his hand, and in the twinkling of an eye He 
put him on the farther fide of the ftream. 
Then Brother Bernard knew that this was 
the Angel of the Lord, and with great awe 
and gladnefs he cried aloud, " O bleffed 
Angel of the Lord, declare unto me your 
name." The Angel anfvvered and faid, 
" Why afk you me my name, which is 
Wonderful ? " And faying this the Angel 
vanifhed, leaving Brother Bernard much 
comforted, infomuch fo that he travelled all 
his road with great rejoicing ; and he was 
mindful of the day and the hour in which 
the Angel had appeared unto him. And 
coming unto that place where Saint Fran- 
cis abode with his chofen Companions, he 
told them all in due order ; and he knew 
for a certainty that that fame Angel in the 
felfsame day and hour had appeared to 
him and them. 



<Satnt jFrancfs of ^nniui. 29 



CHAPTER V. 

How that Saint, Brother Bernard of AJ/lJl, was 
defpatched by Saint Francis to Bologna, and 
there took up his Abode. 

INASMUCH as Saint Francis and his 
companions were called of God and 
chofen to bear in their hearts and in their 
lives, and to preach with their tongues, the 
Crofs of Chrift, they both feemed and were 
men who crucified the flefh, alike in their 
habit and in their auftere life, alike in their 
every aft and deed ; and neverthelefs they 
defired the rather to endure fhame and 
opprobrium for the love of Chrift than to 
receive worldly honors, or reverence, or the 
praife of men : thus injuries rejoiced them 
and honors afflidled them ; and thus they 
paffed through the world as Pilgrims and 
Strangers, bearing with them nought fave 
Chrift Crucified ; and yet they were the 
true Vine, which is Chrift, bringing forth 
great and good fpiritual fruit, which they 
garnered in for God. It happened in the 
firft days of the Order that Saint Francis 
fent Brother Bernard forth to Bologna, to 

the 



30 STiie atttlt jFlotortis of 

the end that there he might bear fruit unto 
God, according to the grace given him of 
Our Lord ; and Brother Bernard, making the 
fign of the moft Holy Crofs, and mindful of 
his facred vow of obedience, departed thence 
and came unto Bologna ; and the children, fee- 
ing him in worn and tattered raiment, mocked 
at him and reviled him as they might have 
any clown ; and Brother Bernard patiently 
and cheerfully bore all things for the love 
of Jefus Chrift; nay, rather that the more 
he might be chaftened, ftudioufly did feat 
himfelf in the market-place, where fitting, 
there foon flocked round about him many 
boys and men, who pulled him by the cowl, 
fome before and fome behind, fome call duft 
upon him and fome Hones, fome thruft and 
fhoved him here and fome there ; and Brother 
Bernard bore all things with patience and 
meeknefs, and with a fmiling face, murmur- 
ing not, neither complaining ; and, more- 
over, often he returned to that fame place 
folely to fuffer fimilar things for the good 
of his Soul. And albeit Patience have her 
perfeft work and be a token of Virtue, a 
learned do6lor of laws, feeing and confider- 
ing fo much conftancy and valor in Brother 
Bernard, fuffering for fo many days unmoved 

by 



Saint j^vmtin ot ^nninu 31 

by any blows or pinches, faid to himfelf, 
"Verily, it cannot be but that is a holy 
man;'' and drawing near to him, he quef- 
tioned him thus : '' Who art thou, and 
wherefore haft thou come hither ?'' And 
Brother Bernard for all anfwer put his hand 
into his bofom and drew forth the Rule of 
Saint Francis, and gave it to him that he 
might read ; and having read, confidering 
his extreme ftate of Perfeftion, with the 
utmoft wonder and admiration he turned 
to his companions and faid, *' Verily, this 
is the moft high ftate of religion of which 
I have heard ; and this man and his com- 
panions are the moft holy men in all the 
earth, and he who harms the leaft among 
them is guilty of a very grievous fm ; for 
every man among them fhould be held in 
high honor, inafmuch as he is the true 
friend of God/' And he fpake to Brother 
Bernard, faying, *' If you will abide among 
us, where you may ferve God acceptably, 
I for the falvation of my foul will joyfully 
give you an abiding-place/' Brother Ber- 
nard made anfwer : " Sir, methinks your 
words are infpired of Our Lord Jefus Chrift ; 
and I cheerfully accept this your offer, to 
the honor and glory of Chrift/' Then the 

faid 



32 Efit atttle iFlotoets ot 

faid Judge with great joy and lovingkindnefs 
led Brother Bernard to his houfe, and there 
beftowed upon him the promifed lodging, 
and fet it in order, and provided for all his 
cofts ; and Ihortly after he himfelf became 
a Father, and the efpecial ally and cham- 
pion of Brother Bernard and of his com- 
panions. And Brother Bernard, for this 
his holy converfion, began to be much 
honored of all men, infomuch that they 
who might touch the hem of his garments, 
or could but look upon him, held them- 
felves bleft ; but he, as a true difciple of 
Chrift, and of the meek and lowly Francis, 
fearing left worldly honors Ihould mar the 
peace and fafety of his foul, departed 
thence one day and returned to Saint 
Francis and fpake thefe words : " Father, 
an abiding-place is found in the city of 
Bologna : I prithee fend thither Brothers 
who may maintain it, and let them fojourn 
there, forafmuch as I no longer profit you 
aught in that fpot ; indeed, for the exceed- 
ing honor which is paid me I fear left I 
lofe more than I gain." Then Saint Fran- 
cis, hearing all things in due order, how 
Our Lord had wrought a great work through 
Brother Bernard, praifed and thanked God, 

Who 



Saint iFrancis ot ^uninu 33 

Who thus deigned to increafe the number 
of poor followers of the Crofs : and then 
he fent forth his Companions into Bologna 
and into Lombardy, who acquired much 
land in many places. 



CHAPTER VI. 

How Saint Francis hlejjed Brother Bernard^ 
and made him his Vicar when he came to pafs 
away from this Life, 

SO great was the fanflity of Brother Ber- 
nard, that Saint Francis reverenced 
him much, and many times did praife him. 
Saint Francis once being devoutly rapt in 
prayer, it was revealed to him of God that 
Brother Bernard was by Divine Leave to 
fuftain many and valiant battles with the 
demons; hence Saint Francis, having ex- 
ceeding great compaffion upon the faid 
Brother Bernard, whom he loved as he were 
his own fon, he prayed many days with tears, 
entreating God for him, and recommending 
him to Chrift Jefus, that he might give 
him vi6lory over the demon. And Saint 
Francis, praying thus devoutly, God one 
day made anfwer unto him : " Francis, fear 

not ; 
3 



34 ^Tft^ atttle jFIototrs ot 

not ; forafmuch as all the temptations by 
which Brother Bernard is to be affailed 
are allowed of God as a teft of his valor 
and a Crown of Glory, and finally he ftiall 
triumph over all his enemies, forafmuch as 
he is one of the Commiffaries of the kingdom 
of Heaven." At the which anfwer Saint 
Francis rejoiced greatly, and praifed the 
Lord ; and from that time forth his love and 
reverence waxed ever greater. And well he 
proved them, not only in his life, but alfo 
in his death. Forafmuch as Saint Fran- 
cis, being about to die, even as that holy 
Patriarch Jacob, his mourning fons ftanding 
about him devoutly, weeping at the de- 
parture of fo amiable a father, he alked 
them, ** Where is my Firftborn ? Come 
hither to me, my Son, that my Soul may 
blefs thee before I die/' Then Brother 
Bernard faid privily to Brother Elias, who 
was the Vicar of the Order, ** Father, go 
thou to the right hand of the Saint, that 
he may blefs thee." And Brother Elias, 
placing himfelf upon his right hand. Saint 
Francis, who had loft his fight by reafon of 
his many tears, laid his right hand upon 
the head of Brother Elias and faid, '* This 
is not the head of my firftborn fon. Brother 

Bernard 



Saint JftmtiH of ^uuihu 35 

Bernard.'* Then Brother Bernard went and 
flood by his left hand ; and Saint Francis 
flretching forth his arms in the form of 
a Crofs, laid his right hand upon the 
head of Brother Bernard and his left hand 
upon the head of that fame Brother Elias, 
and faid to Brother Bernard : " May God 
the Father and Our Lord Jefus Chrift blefs 
thee with every fpiritual bleffmg, and may 
Chrift grant thee all celeftial bleffmgs, even 
as thou art the Firftborn, chofen into this 
Holy Order to give a godly example, to 
follow Chrift in Chriftian poverty ; inaf- 
much as thou haft given not only all that 
which was thine, dividing it wholly and 
freely among the poor for the love of 
Chrift, but alfo haft given thyfelf a free-will 
offering unto God in this Order, a facrifice 
pleafmg in His fight. Receive, therefore, 
the bleffing of Our Lord Jefus Chrift, and of 
me. His poor fervant, bleffings everlafting, 
whether walking, ftanding, waking, fleep- 
ing, living, or dying ; and all who fhall 
blefs thee fhall themfelves be filled with 
bleffing. They who curfe thee fhall not 
go unpunifhed. Thou art chief among all 
thy Brethren, and all the Brothers fhall bow 
to thy will. Thou haft my leave to receive 

into 



36 JCSe nettle iFlotoets of 

into the Order whomfoever thou wilt ; and 
no Brother Ihall have fupremacy over thee, 
and thou art free to come and go whither- 
foever thou wilt." And after the death of 
Saint Francis the Brethren loved and re- 
vered Brother Bernard as a venerable Fa- 
ther ; and he, coming to die, many Brothers 
gathered about him from all quarters of 
the globe, among them being that divine 
hierarch Brother Guy, who, seeing Brother 
Bernard, cried aloud, with great gladnefs, 
" Li/l up your hearty Brother Bernar^d ; lift 
up your hearts And Brother Bernard 
bade one of the Brethren privily that he 
Ihould prepare a place meet for contempla- 
tion for Brother Guy ; and fo it was done. 
Brother Bernard, being at the laft hour of 
his death, bade his Brethren lift him up, 
and fpake to fuch of them as were there 
prefent, faying : " My beloved Brethren, I 
have not many words to fpeak to you. But 
you muft be mindful that that degree of 
Religion which I have had you have at 
this prefent, and unto that which I now 
enjoy, you Ihall yet attain ; and I tell you 
from my foul of fouls that I would not 
for a thoufand Worlds like unto this have 
ferved other Lord than Our Lord Jefus 

Chrift. 



Saint iFtancis of ^uuinu 37 

Chrift. And for every offence that I have 
committed I confefs myfelf guilty, and ac- 
cufe myfelf before my Saviour Jefus and 
before you. I befeech you, my deareft 
Brethren, love one another/* And after 
thefe words, and other wholefome teach- 
ings, he laid himfelf down upon his bed, 
his face Ihone with joy and fplendor fo 
exceeding that all the Brothers marvelled 
greatly, and in that rapture his moft faintly 
foul, crowned with glory, paffed from this 
prefent life into the bleffed life of the 
angels. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Ifow Saint Francis fajled forty Days and forty 
Nights in an IJland of the Lake of Ferugia, 
eating no more but half a Loaf 

THAT true fervant of Chrifl, Saint 
Francis, being in certain things 
almoft another Chrift, fent into the world 
to fave the nations. Our Lord and Fa- 
ther God defired to make him in many 
afts conformable and like unto His Son 
Jefus Chrifl ; even as we have feen in 
the venerable College of the twelve Com- 
panions, 



S8 m)t %imt jFlctorrs of 

panions, and in the admirable Myftery of 
the Sacred Stigmata, and in the Faft lafting 
throughout the whole term of Lent, which 
took place after this manner : Saint Fran- 
cis being once, upon the laft day of the 
Carnival, befide the Lake of Perugia in the 
houfe of one of his devout followers, with 
whom he had tarried for a night, he was 
infpired of God that he fliould proceed to 
keep his faft in an Ifland of that lake ; 
wherefore Saint Francis prayed this his fol- 
lower that for the love of Chrift he would 
bear him over in his boat unto an Ifland 
of the lake where no man abode ; this he 
fhould do upon the night of Afh Wednef- 
day, in fuch manner that they might be 
feen of none ; and he for love of the 
great devotion which he felt for Saint 
Francis faithfully did his beheft, and bare 
him over to the Ifland : and Saint Francis 
took nothing with him fave two fmall 
loaves. And having come to the Ifland, 
and his friend departing thence to return 
to his houfe. Saint Francis charged him 
by the love which he bare him that he 
fhould reveal to no man where he did lie, 
and that he fliould not journey back to 
fetch him fooner than Maundy-Thurfday ; 

and 



<Sa(nt jTrancts ot ^nninu 39 

and thus they parted. And Saint Francis 
abode there alone ; and there being no 
habitation wherein he might find fhelter, 
he entered into a thick wood wherein many 
thorns and brambles and little bufhes had 
formed a den or burrow, and herein he fell 
to praying and to mufing upon celeftial 
things. And herein he flayed during the 
whole fpace of Lent, eating not, neither 
drinking aught, fave the half of one of 
thofe fmall loaves, according as his faith- 
ful follower found him when he croffed 
over to him on Maundy-Thurfday ; the 
which found of two fmall loaves one en- 
tire, and of the other half; it is believed 
that Saint Francis did partake out of rever- 
ence for the fafting of the bleffed Chrift, 
Who fafted forty days and forty nights, par- 
taking of no bodily food ; and thus with 
that half loaf he drove far from him the 
venom of Vainglory, and following after 
Chrift fafted forty days and forty nights. 
And then in that place where Francis did 
fuch marvellous feats of abflinence God 
the Lord wrought many miracles through 
his merits : for the which thing men began 
to build houfes there and to dwell there ; 
and in a brief fpace a Caftle good and great 

flood 



40 fflTfie %ittlt jFIotoers ot 

flood therein, and this was the home of the 
Brethren, and it was called by the name 
of the Ifland ; and even unto this prefent 
time the men and the women of that Caftle 
difplay great reverence and devotion upon 
that fpot where Saint Francis failed as has 
been here fet forth. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Hbw Saint Francis and Brother Leo, as they 
journeyed^ difcourfed of PerfeB Blifs. 

SAINT FRANCIS once journeying from 
Perugia to St. Mary of the Angels 
with Brother Leo in winter time, and the 
very great cold pinching him fore, he called 
aloud to Brother Leo, who walked before, 
and faid thus : " Brother Leo, although the 
Gray Friars in every place fet a good ex- 
ample of fan6lity and of godly leffons, 
neverthelefs I defire you to write down and 
diligently to note that they know not per- 
fe6l blifs.'' And Saint Francis journeying 
yet farther, a fecond time he called aloud, 
" O Brother Leo, albeit the Gray Friar be 
eyes to the blind, deliver men from evil, 
drive out demons, be ears to the deaf, and 

feet 



Safnt jpvmtin of ^nuiuu 41 

feet to the lame, a tongue to the dumb, and 
what is yet more do reftore the dead to life 
within the fpace of four days, yet write that 
he knows not perfe6l blifs." And journey- 
ing yet a little farther, he cried with a 
loud voice, " O Brother Leo, if the Gray 
Friar know all tongues, all knowledge, 
and all the Scriptures in fuch fafhion that 
he may prophefy and reveal not alone 
the things of the future, but even alfo the 
fecrets of all confciences and of all fouls, 
ftill I bid thee write, herein lies not perfeft 
blifs." Going yet a little farther. Saint 
Francis called aloud yet once again : ** O 
Brother Leo, Lamb of God, even though the 
Gray Friar fpeak with the tongues of men 
and of angels, and know the courfe of the 
ftars and the virtues of all herbs, and were 
all the treafures of the earth laid bare to 
him, and did he know the virtues of birds 
and fifhes, and of all animals and of men 
and of trees and of ftones and of roots 
and of waters, flill write that herein lies 
not perfeft blifs." And journeying yet a 
little fpace Saint Francis cried aloud : " O 
Brother Leo, even could the Gray Friar 
preach fo well as that he fhould turn all 
infidels to the faith of Chrift, yet write, 

herein 



42 2Ci)e 2LtttIr jFIototrs of 

herein lies not perfe6l blifs." And this dif- 

courfe enduring for full two miles, Brother 

Leo with amazement afked him, faying, 

"Father, I pray thee, for God's fake, that 

thou wilt tell me where may perfeft blifs 

be found ? " And Saint Francis made 

anfwer thus : " When we fhall have come 

unto St. Mary of the Angels, dripping 

with rain . and frozen with cold and be- 

fpattered with mud and tormented fore 

with hunger, and fhall knock at the door 

of that place, and the porter fhall look 

forth in wrath, and fliall fay, *Who are 

ye ? * and we fhall fay, ' We be two of your 

Brethren ; ' and he fhall fay, * You fpeak 

not truly ; forfooth you are two ribald 

knaves who go about deceiving folk and 

flealing alms from the poor, get you gone!' 

and he fhall not open unto us, and fhall 

leave us ftanding without in the fnow and 

the wet with cold and hunger even till 

the fall of night ; then if we fhall patiently 

endure fuch great injuftice and cruelty and 

villanous rebuffs without peeviflmefs or 

turbulence, murmuring not againft him, 

and fhall think humbly and charitably that 

verily that doorkeeper reads us aright, that 

our . Lord hath bade him revile us and 

fpeak 



Saint jpvmtiH of ^nninu 43 

fpeak againft us, then, O Brother Leo, mayft 
thou write, herein lies perfe6l blifs. And 
if we fhall perfevere our knocking, and he 
fhall come forth in his wrath and drive us 
thence as rafcals, with ftripes and revilings, 
faying, * Get you hence, vileft thieves, get 
you to the hofpital, for here you fhall not 
abide, neither fhall you eat, — if we fhall 
endure the fame meekly and with rejoic- 
ing and love, O Brother Leo, then mayft 
thou write that herein lies perfe6l blifs. 
And if we, urged by hunger and cold and 
by the darknefs, fhall ftill perfift our knock- 
ing and fhall cry aloud and entreat him for 
the love of God with much weeping and 
wailing that he will open and let us in, 
and he, fcandalized yet more, fhall fay, 
'Thefe are importunate knaves, I will 
chaftife them as is meet ; and fhall come 
forth with a knotty ftaff, and fhall feize us 
by the hair of the head and caft us to the 
ground, and roll us in the fnow, and beat 
us knot by knot with that fame ftaff, — if 
all thefe things patiently and cheerfully we 
do endure, thinking upon the fufferings of 
the bleffed Chrift, which greatly are we 
bounden to fuffer for His fake, O Brother 
Leo, then mayfl thou write that herein and 

in 



44 2ri)t SLtttle iFlotoers of 

in this lies perfeft blifs. And yet hearken 
unto the end, Brother Leo. Beyond all the 
graces and gifts of the Holy Ghoft, which 
Chrift has granted unto His faithful friends, 
is vi6lory over felf, and power for love of 
Chrift to fuffer pain and infult, poverty 
and difgrace ; forafmuch as in all the other 
gifts of God we can take no pride, they 
being not our own but of God. Hence 
the Apoftle faith, * What have ye which is 
not of God ? And if it be of Him, where- 
fore do ye glory in it, as if ye had it of your 
own felves ? * But in the crofs of forrow 
and grief we may glory, inafmuch as the 
Apoftle faith, 'God forbid that I ftiould 
glory, fave in the crofs of Chrift/" 



CHAPTER IX. 

How Saint Francis taught Brother Leo to make 
Anfwer unto Him : and He could never Speak 
fave the Contrary of that which Saint Francis 
Willed 

SAINT FRANCIS being once, in the 
firft days of the Order, with Brother 
Leo in a place where they had no books to fay 
the divine offices, when the hour for Matins 

was 



cSatnt J^v^ntiH of ^huihu 45 

was at hand, Saint Francis faid to Brother 
Leo : " My beloved, we have no breviary 
from which to fay Matins, but in order that 
we may fpend the time duly in praifmg 
God, I will recite and do you refpond as 
I fhall teach you ; and beware left you 
change the words diverfely from that which 
I fhall teach you. I will fay thus : ' O 
Brother Francis, fo much evil haft thou 
done, and fo many fins haft thou commit- 
ted in this world, that thou art worthy of 
Hell-fire/ And you. Brother Leo, muft re- 
fpond : * Verily, verily thou art deferving of 
the hotteft fires of HdW And Brother 
Leo, with the fimpHcity of the dove, re- 
plied, ''I am ready, Father; begin, in the 
name of God.'* Then Saint Francis began 
to fay, **0 Brother Francis, fo much evil 
haft thou done, and fo many fms haft thou 
committed in this world, that thou art 
worthy of Hell-fire." And Brother Leo 
replied, '' The Lord fhall work for thee 
fuch miracles that thou fhalt go ftraight to 
Paradife.'* Then faid Saint Francis, *^ Say 
not fo. Brother Leo ; but when I fay, 
* Brother Francis, thou haft fmned griev- 
oufly againft God, and art worthy to be 
curfed of God,* you muft make anfwer thus : 

* Verily 



46 ^^t acttle iFlotoers of 

* Verily, verily thou art worthy of a place 
among the Accurfed.'" And Brother Leo 
replied, "I am ready, Father." Then Saint 
Francis, with many tears and groans and 
much beating of his breaft, cried aloud, 
" O Lord my God, Lord of heaven and of 
earth, I have committed fuch fins againfb 
Thee, and fiach iniquities, that I am worthy 
to be curfed of Thee/' And Brother Leo 
made anfwer, " O Brother Francis, God fhall 
do fiach things for thee that thou Ihalt be 
Angularly bleffed among the bleffed." And 
Saint Francis marvelling that Brother Leo 
anfwered ever the contrary of that which 
he had charged him, effayed once more, 
faying, " Why anfwer you not as I bid you ? 
I charge you by your holy vow of obe- 
dience that you make anfwer as I fhall 
direft you. I will fay thus : ' O wretched 
Brother Francis, doft thou think that God 
will have mercy upon thee, who haft com- 
mitted fuch great fins againft the Father of 
all Mercies and the God of Confolation that 
thou art no more worthy to find favor in 
His fight ? ' And you. Brother Leo, fheep 
of my flock, muft make anfwer, * In no 
manner art thou worthy to find favor in 
His fight.'" But fo foon as Saint Francis 

faid, 



<Satnt jftmtiu of ^nuinu 47 

faid, " O wretched Brother Francis," etc., 
Brother Leo replied : " Our Heavenly- 
Father, whofe mercy is infinitely greater 
than are thy fins, will have mercy upon 
thee and will pour His grace upon thee." 
At this anfwer Saint Francis was gently 
enraged and meekly difliurbed, faying to 
Brother Leo, "And wherefore do you make 
fo bold to aft contrary to your vow of obe- 
dience, and have fo many times made an- 
fwer contrary to that which I charged you 
to fay ?'' Brother Leo replied very humbly 
and reverently, " God the Lord knoweth the 
why and the wherefore, my Father, for every 
time I have fchooled my heart to anfwer 
as you did bid me ; but the Lord made 
me fpeak as beft it pleafed Him, and not 
according as was pleafing in my fight." 
At which thing Saint Francis marvelled, 
and faid to Brother Leo, '' I pray you mofl 
lovingly that this time you anfwer me as I 
do bid you." Brother Leo replied, " Say on, 
in God's name, for affuredly I w^ill now 
make anfwer as vou would have me." And 
Saint Francis, weeping, faid, *'0 wicked 
Brother Francis, doft thou think that God 
will fhow mercy unto thee } " Brother Leo 
anfwered him, faying, "Ay, and great grace 

flialt 



48 2rt)e mttlt :fflo\xitvu oi 

fhalt thou have of God. He Ihall exalt thee, 
and glorify thee in all ages, forafmuch as 
he who humbleth himfelf fhall be exalted ; 
and I can fpeak no otherwife than I do, 
forafmuch as God Himfelf fpeaks through 
my mouth." And thus in this humble ftrife, 
with many tears and with much fpiritual 
confolation, they watched until day. 



CHAPTER X. 

J7ow Brother Maximus Mockingly /aid unto 
Saint Francis that the World was at his Feet. 
And he made anfwer that this was by the 
Grace of God, and a Dif grace to the World, 

SAINT FRANCIS fojourning upon a 
time in the Convent of Portiuncula 
with Brother Maximus of Marignano, a man 
of much fanftity, difcretion, and grace in dif- 
courfing of God, for the which thing greatly 
did Saint Francis love him, one day Saint 
Francis returning from the thick wood and 
from prayer, and being upon the outfkirts 
of that woody wild, that fame Brother Maxi- 
mus, defiring to know whether his humility 
were unfeigned, went forth to meet him by 

the 



Saint Jf'tantiu of ^uniuu 49 

the way, and mockingly cried out to him, 
" Wherefore after thee ? Wherefore after 
thee ? Wherefore after thee ? '' Saint Fran- 
cis alked, '' What fay you ? " Then f aid 
Brother Maximus, " I fay, wherefore fol- 
loweth the whole world after thee, and 
why doth every man defire to fee and to 
hear and to obey thee ? Thou art not fair 
to fee, thou haft no great learning, neither 
art thou noble ; wherefore, then, doth the 
whole world follow after thee ? " Hearing 
this, Saint Francis, greatly rejoiced in fpirit, 
lifting his face to Heaven, ftood for a fpace 
with his mind fixed on God, and then 
coming back to earth he knelt and gave 
praife and glory to God, and then with 
very fervent fpirit he turned to Brother 
Maximus and faid, " Would you know 
wherefore men follow after me ? Would 
you know wherefore men follow after me ? 
Would you know wherefore men follow 
after me ? This grace I have from the 
eyes of the Moft High God, which in all 
places behold the godly and the ungodly : 
forafmuch as thofe moft holy eyes never 
yet beheld of fmners one more vile, nor 
more infufficient, nor a greater fmner than 
am I ; nor yet to do that marvellous work 

which 
4 



50 2Ci)e fLtttle Jflotoers of 

which He willeth to accomplifh has He 
found a viler creature upon earth. And 
therefore hath He chofen me, to confound 
the Nobility and the Grandeur and the 
Strength and the Beauty and the Wifdom 
of the world, to the end that it may be 
made known that all Virtue and all Good- 
nefs are from Him and not from His crea- 
tures, and that none may glory in his own 
fight ; but that all who glory may glory 
in the Lord, unto whom be all glory and 
honor for ever and ever. Amen." Then 
Brother Maximus at fo humble an anfwer, 
uttered with fuch fervor, was affrighted, 
and knew of a furety that the humility 
of Saint Francis was unfeigned. 



CHAPTER XI. 

How Saint Francis caiifed Brother Maximus to 
tur7t Himfelf about, and then departed unto 
Siemia, 

SAINT FRANCIS one day journeying 
with Brother Maximus, that fame Brother 
Maximus walking a few paces before, and 
coming unto a fpot where three roads met, 

the 



Satnt Jfvantin of ^nuinu 51 

the which led to Florence, to Sienna, and 
to Arezzo, Brother Maximus fpake thus : 
" Father, which road fhall we purfue ? '* 
Saint Francis made anfwer, " By that 
which God choofeth/' Then faid Brother 
Maximus, "And how may we know the 
will of God ? '* Saint Francis replied, " By 
that felfsame fign which I fhall fhow you ; 
wherefore I charge you by the fruits of 
holy obedience that at this meeting-place 
of the roads, in the very fpot whereon your 
feet now reft, you do turn yourfelf about, 
even as do children, and give not over 
turning until I do bid thee ceafe/' Forth- 
with Brother Maximus began to turn and 
to twirl himfelf round about ; and fo long 
did he turn, that at laft from fheer dizzi- 
nefs, fuch as fuch twirling is wont to gener- 
ate, he fell often to the ground : but Saint 
Francis not bidding him to ceafe, and he 
defiring faithfully to obey, rofe ever and 
again to his feet. Finally, as he turned 
valiantly. Saint Francis cried out, " Stand 
ftill, and move not/' And he ftood ftill, 
and Saint Francis queftioned him, fay- 
ing, " Towards what land do you look ? " 
Brother Maximus anfwered, "Towards 
Sienna." Saint Francis faid, " That way 

God 



52 STi^e ILittU Jplo\ntVH of 

God wills us to go.'^ Travelling that way, 
Brother Maximus marvelled that Saint 
Francis had made him do fuch things, even 
as do children at play, in the fight of thofe 
laymen who paffed along that road. Never- 
thelefs, fo great was his reverence that he 
ventured not to fpeak to the Holy Father. 
Coming near to Sienna, the people of that 
city heard of the coming of the Saint, and 
went forth to meet him ; and from devo- 
tion they bore him and his Companion even 
unto the Epifcopal Palace in their arms, fo 
that they touched not earth with their feet. 
In that fame hour certain men of Sienna 
ftrove together, and two of them already 
lay dead. Saint Francis being in their 
midft, preached unto them fo devoutly and 
fo holily that he reftored them all, every 
man among them, to peace and great unity 
and mutual concord ; for the which thing 
the Bifhop of Sienna, hearing of this holy 
work which Saint Francis had wrought, 
invited him to his own houfe, and received 
him with extremeft honor that day and 
even for the night. And the next morn- 
ing Saint Francis, being truly humble, 
feeking never any glory for his works, fave 
only the glory of God, rofe betimes with 

his 



cSatnt JpvmtiB ot ^uuinu 53 

his Companion and departed unknown to 
the Bifhop. At which the faid Brother 
Maximus murmured within himfelf as he 
journeyed, faying as he went, " What things 
are thefe which this good man does ? He 
makes me turn and twirl Hke any filly 
child ; and to the Bifhop, who has done 
him fuch honor, he fpeaks no word, neither 
thanks him, and it feemeth to Brother Max- 
imus as if Saint Francis thus had borne 
himfelf indifcreetly." But then by divine 
infpiration returning unto himfelf, and 
chiding himfelf in the filence of his own 
heart. Brother Maximus exclaimed, "You 
are of too proud a fpirit, you who dare to 
condemn divine works, and you are worthy 
of Hell-fire for your foolifh pride ; inaf- 
much as Saint Francis in the day of yefter- 
day performed fuch holy deeds, that had 
they been done by an Angel of God they 
could not have been more marvellous. 
Hence, if he command you to dafh your- 
felf againft a rock, you fhould obey him 
and do fo ; for thofe things which he has 
done upon this pilgrimage proceed from 
Divine A6lion, as is fet forth by the good 
refult which followed after them ; foraf- 
much as if he had not pacified thofe who 

ftrove 



54 ^8^ atttle jFlotoeris of 

ftrove together, not only many bodies, as 
already there began to be feen, would have 
perifhed by the knife, but even alfo many 
fouls would the Devil have dragged down 
into Hell ; and yet you, vain and filly that 
you are, murmur at that which manifeftly 
proceedeth from the will of God." And all 
thefe things which Brother Maximus fpake 
within his own heart were ftraightway re- 
vealed of God to Saint Francis. Whence 
Saint Francis drawing near to him fpake 
thefe words : " Abide by thofe things on 
which you now mufe, forafmuch as they are 
good and ufeful, and infpired of God ; but 
the firft complaints which you uttered were 
blind and vain and arrogant, and inftilled 
into your mind of the Devil." Then 
Brother Maximus faw clearly that Saint 
Francis knew the fecrets of his heart, and 
knew for a furety that the Spirit of Divine 
Wifdom guided the Holy Father in his 
every a6lion. 



Satnt Jptmitiu of ^n^iuu 55 



CHAPTER XII. 

How Sai7it Francis be/lowed on Brother Maxi- 
mus the Offices of Gate-Keeper, Almoner, and 
Cook : then at the Prayer of the other Broth- 
ers deprived him of them, 

SAINT FRANCIS, wifhing to mortify 
Brother Maximus, to the end that 
the many gifts and graces which God had 
given him might not make him Vainglori- 
ous, but that by virtue of HumiHty he might 
grow with them from virtue to virtue, upon 
a time when he dwelt in a folitary place 
with thofe his firft companions, very Saints, 
of whom was the faid Brother Maximus, 
fpake one day to Brother Maximus before 
all his companions: '*0 Brother Maximus, 
all thefe your companions have the grace of 
contemplation and of prayer, but you have 
the grace to preach the word of God to the 
fatisfa6lion of the people ; and hence I de- 
fire, to the end that they may apply them- 
felves to contemplation, that you do take 
upon yourfelf the offices of Door-keeper, of 
Almoner, and Cook. And when the other 
Brothers do eat, you Ihall eat without the 

convent 



56 STI&e 3Llttlt iFlotoers of 

convent gate ; to the end that thofe who 
come hither, before they knock you may 
fatisfy them with certain goodly words from 
God ; fo that there be no need for any to iff ue 
forth but only you ; and this do through 
the fruits of holy obedience." Thereupon 
Brother Maximus drew on his cowl, and 
bowed his head, and humbly received and 
continued to obey this charge for many 
days, filling the offices of Door-keeper, of 
Almoner, and of Cook. Whence his Com- 
panions, like men illumined of God, began 
to feel great remorfe within their hearts, 
confidering that Brother Maximus was a 
man of exceeding great Perfeftnefs, like 
unto themfelves or yet more, and upon him 
refted all the burden of the Convent and 
not on them. For the which thing they 
were all moved with one accord, and went 
in and prayed the Holy Father that it might 
pleafe him to diftribute thofe offices among 
them ; forafmuch as their confciences could 
in no manner endure that Brother Maximus 
fhould undergo fuch toil. Hearing this, 
Saint Francis yielded to their counfels and 
confented to their wifh, and calling Brother 
Maximus, faid to him, " Brother Maximus, 
your companions defire to fhare in thofe 

offices 



<Satnt jFrancis of ^nninu 57 

offices which I have beftowed upon you ; 
and therefore I defire that the faid offices 
.may be divided." Brother Maximus faid 
with great Patience and Meeknefs, " Father, 
the burden which you lay upon me, be it 
all or but a part, I hold it as the work of 
God alone." Then Saint Francis, feeing 
the Loving-kindnefs of thofe brothers and 
the humility of Brother Maximus, preached 
them a marvellous fermon upon the moft 
faintly quality of Humility ; teaching them 
that the greater are the gifts and the graces 
beftowed upon us by God, fo much the 
more humble fhould we be, forafmuch as 
without Humility no virtue is acceptable 
in God's fight. And the Sermon ended, 
he diftributed the Offices with the utmoft 
Affe6lion. 



58 s;i)t WLittlt jFlotoers of 



CHAPTER XIII. 

How Sahtt Francis and Brother Maximus laid 
the Bread which they had begged upon a Sto?ie 
bejtde a Well, and Saint Francis loudly praifed 
Poverty, The7t He prayed unto God and Saint 
Peter a?td Saint Paul that they might en- 
amour Him of divine Poverty ; and how Saint 
Peter and Saint Paul appeared unto Him. 

THAT wondrous fervant and follower 
of Chrift, which is Saint Francis, 
defiring to conform himfelf perfeftly unto 
Chrift in all things, who, as the Gofpel tells 
us, fent out his Difciples two by two into 
all thofe cities and towns whither He was 
to go; therefore following the example of 
Chrift he affembled together twelve Com- 
panions and fent them forth into the 
world to preach two by two. And to 
fet them an example of true obedience, 
he firft began to pra6life that which he 
did after preach. Hence having affigned 
to his Companions the other parts of the 
world, he, taking Brother Maximus as his 
companion, fet forth towards the Province 
of France. And coming one day to a 

certain 



<Saint iFtantts ot ^uuiuu 59 

certain town and being very hungry, they 
begged their bread as they went, accord- 
ing to the rule of their Order, for the love 
of God ; and Saint Francis went through 
one quarter of the town and Brother Maxi- 
mus through another. But forafmuch as 
Saint Francis was a man mean and low of 
ftature, and hence was reputed a vile beg- 
gar by fuch as knew him not, he only begged 
a few fcanty crufts and mouthfuls of dry 
bread ; but to Brother Maximus, inafmuch 
as he was great and well-favored, were 
given good pieces and large, and an abun- 
dance of bread, yea, whole loaves. Hav- 
ing begged, they met together without the 
town to eat, at a place where there was a 
clear well, and befide it was a fair large ftone, 
upon which each fpread forth the alms 
which he had begged ; and Saint Francis 
feeing that the pieces of bread begged by 
Brother Maximus were more and better 
and bigger than his own, rejoiced greatly, 
faying, ** O Brother Maximus, we are not 
worthy of fo great a treafure;" and repeat- 
ing thefe words many times. Brother Maxi- 
mus replied, '' Father, how can you talk of 
treafures, where there is fuch great pov- 
erty and fuch lack of all things needful ? 

Here 



6o JTtie Utttlt jFlotoeris ot 

Here is neither napkin nor knife, neither 
board nor trencher, neither houfe nor ta- 
ble, neither man-fervant nor maid-fervant." 
Saint Francis faid : " And this is that fame 
which I repute a great treafure, where 
nought is made ready by human induftry ; 
but all that is here is prepared by Divine 
Providence, as is plainly fet forth in the 
bread which we have begged, in the table 
of fair ftone, and in the well of clear water, 
and therefore I would that we fhould pray 
to God that He teach us to love with all 
our heart the treafure of Holy Poverty which 
is fo noble a thing, and whofe fervant is God 
the Lord." And having faid thefe words, 
and having prayed, and having taken the 
bodily refeftion of thofe crufts of bread and 
of that water, they arofe to journey into 
France ; and coming to a church, Saint 
Francis faid to his Companion, "Let us 
enter into this church to pray." And 
ftraightway Saint Francis retired behind 
the altar and fell to praying ; and in that 
prayer he received exceeding fervor from 
the Divine Vifitation, which fo inflamed his 
foul with the love of Holy Poverty, that what 
with the color of his face and with the 
yawning of his mouth he feemed to dart 

forth 



Saint jFtancts of ^nninu 6i 

forth flames of love. And coming thus 
kindled unto his comrade, he faid, "Ah, 
ah, ah, Brother Maximus, give me thyfelf ; *' 
and thefe words he fpake three times ; and 
the third time Saint Francis lifted Brother 
Maximus in the air with his breath, and 
caft him before him for the fpace of a tall 
ftaff; at which that fame Brother Maximus 
was much amazed. He afterwards told 
his Companions that in that raifing and 
impulfion of the breath, performed of Saint 
Francis, he felt fuch fpiritual fweetnefs and 
confolation of the Holy Ghoft as he never 
before had known in his life. And this 
done. Saint Francis faid, ^' Comrade mine, 
let us go to Saint Peter and Saint Paul, 
and let us pray them that they will be 
pleafed to teach us and aid us to poffefs 
the unbounded treafure of moft Holy Pov- 
erty ; forafmuch as it is a treafure fo worthy 
and fo divine that we are not worthy to 
poffefs it in our moft Vile Veffels ; feeing 
that it is that celeftial virtue by which all 
things tranfitory and terreftrial are trodden 
under foot, and by the which every care is 
fmoothed from the Soul, to the end that it 
may freely be conjoined with the Everlaft- 
ing God ; and this is that fame virtue which 

makes 



62 frije afttle jFlotoets of 

makes the Soul ftill bound to earth con- 
verfe with Angels in Heaven ; and this it 
is which went with Chrift even to the 
Crofs, was buried with Chrift, rofe from the 
dead with Chrift, with Chrift afcended into 
Heaven ; which even in this life grants to 
Souls which truly love it the power to 
afcend into Heaven, forafmuch as it pre- 
ferves the armor of true Humility and Lov- 
ing-kindnefs. And therefore let us pray 
the moft Holy Apoftles of Chrift, who were 
perfe6l lovers of this Gofpel Pearl, that 
they will be pleafed to beftow on us this 
grace of our Lord Jeftis Chrift, that of His 
moft holy mercy He will make us worthy to 
be true lovers, followers, and humble difci- 
pies of the moft precious, moft dearly be- 
loved, and evangelical Poverty/* And in 
fuch difcourfe they reached Rome, and 
entered into the Church of St. Peter; 
and Saint Francis began to pray in one 
corner of the Church and Brother Maxi- 
mus in the other. And praying long with 
many tears and great devotion, the moft 
Holy Apoftles Peter and Paul appeared 
unto Saint Francis with great fplendor, 
faying, "Forafmuch as you demand and 
defire to follow that which Chrift and the 

Holy 



cSatnt jFrancis of ^uninu 63 

Holy Apoftles followed, the Lord Jefus 
Chrift fends us to you to fay that your 
prayer has been heard, and that God yields 
to you and to your followers the treafure of 
moft Holy Poverty in fulleft meafure. And 
alfo He bids us fay unto you that whofo- 
ever like you fhall truly follow this defire, 
he Ihall be bleffed forevermore ; and you 
and all your companions ihall be bleffed of 
God/* And having uttered thefe words 
they vanifhed away, leaving Saint Francis 
greatly confoled. The fame rofe from his 
prayers and returned to his Companion and 
alked him if God had revealed nothing 
to him. And he anfwered, '' No." Then 
Saint Francis told him how the Holy 
Apoftles had appeared unto him, and that 
which they had revealed to him. Upon 
which, each being filled with joy, they de- 
termined to return into the Vale of Spoleto, 
journeying not into France. 



64 ^fjt afttle jFlototris of 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Ifow Samt Francis, difcourjing of God with his 
Breth7'en, He appeared in their Midjl. 

SAINT FRANCIS, in the early days 
of the foundation of his Order, being 
gathered together with his Companions, 
difcourfmg of Chrift, in the ardor of his 
fpirit, did charge one among them that 
he open his mouth in the name of God, 
and fpeak concerning God that which the 
Holy Ghoft fhould infpire him to fay. The 
Brother obeying the command, and fpeak- 
ing marvellous well concerning God, 
Saint Francis impofed filence upon him, 
and required the fame of another friar. 
He obeying, and fpeaking fubtilely of God, 
Saint Francis likewife impofed filence upon 
him ; and he commanded a third that he 
ihould fpeak of God, who likewife began to 
talk fo wifely of the fecret things of God 
that Saint Francis knew certainly that he, 
as alfo the other two, fpake from the Holy 
Ghoft, and this alfo was proven by an ex- 
ample, and by an exprefs fign ; for they 
being in this difcourfe, Chrift the Bleffed 

appeared 



<Satnt ^vantin of ^nuinu 65 

appeared in their midft vifibly and in the 
bodily form of a moft lovely Youth; and 
bleffing them, he filled them all with fuch 
grace and fweetnefs that they were rav- 
ifhed out of themfelves, and fell like dead 
men, knowing nought of this world. And 
then returning to their fenfes, Saint Fran- 
cis faid to them : *' My beloved Brothers, 
give thanks to God, Who has been pleafed 
to reveal the treafures of the Divine Wifdom 
through the mouths of the fimple ; foraf- 
much as it is God Who opes the mouth 
of the dumb and makes the tongue of the 
fimple to difcourfe moft wifely." 



CHAPTER XV. 

ITow Saint Clara ate with Saint Francis and 
with his Brother Monks in St. Mary of the 
Angels. 

SAINT FRANCIS, when he was at 
Affifi, ofttimes vifited Saint Clara, giv- 
ing her holy teachings ; and fhe having the 
greateft defire to eat with him but once, 
and entreating him many times to this end, 
he would never grant her that Confolation. 

Hence, 
5 



66 8ri)t aittle iFlotoers of 

Hence his Companions, feeing the defire of 
Saint Clara, faid to Saint Francis : " Father, 
to us it feems that fuch feverity is not in 
accordance with Divine Charity, that Sifter 
Clara, a virgin fo faintly and fo beloved of 
God, fhould not find favor in your fight to 
gain fo fmall a thing as to eat with you ; 
and efpecially confidering that fhe through 
your preachings forfook riches and all the 
pomps of this world ; and verily, were fhe 
to afk you a much greater grace than this, 
you fhould grant it to your fpiritual child." 
Then Saint Francis replied, " Does it feem 
to you that I fhould hear her prayer ? " 
His Companions anfwered, " Father, yes ; 
it is a righteous thing that you fhould grant 
her requeft, and a confolation." Then Saint 
Francis faid : "Since it feems meet to you, 
it feems fo alfo unto me. But that fhe may 
be the more confoled, I defire that this 
meal fhould be eaten in the Church of St. 
Mary of the Angels, forafmuch as fhe has 
long been cloiftered in St. Damian : there- 
fore it will rejoice her much to fee the 
Church of St. Mary, where her locks were 
fhorn off and fhe was made the bride 
of Jefus Chrift ; and there we will eat to- 
gether in the name of God." When the 

day 



Saint jFrancis oC ^uninU 67 

day came appointed for this, Saint Clara 
left her Convent with one companion, accom- 
panied by the Companions of Saint Francis, 
and came to St. Mary of the Angels ; and 
having devoutly faluted the Virgin Mary 
before the altar, where her locks had been 
fliorn and the veil had been placed upon 
her head, they led her about to fee the 
place until at laft it was time to dine. 
And Saint Francis ordered the cloth to be 
laid in their midft upon the bare ground, 
as he was wont to do. And when the hour 
for dinner came, Saint Francis and Saint 
Clara fat down together, and one of the 
Comrades of Saint Francis with Saint 
Clara's Companion, and then all' their other 
Companions took their places humbly. And 
for the firft difh Saint Francis began to 
talk of God fo fweetly, fo nobly, fo won- 
drous well, that the abundance of the Divine 
grace defcending upon them, they were all 
tranfported as it were to Heaven. And 
being thus tranfported, with eyes and 
hands raifed to Heaven, the men of Affifi 
and of Bettoria, and of the country round 
about, faw how St. Mary of the Angels, 
and all that place, and the wood which 
flood befide it, burned fiercely; and it 

feemed 



68 Kfjt mttlt jFlotoeris of 

feemed as it were a great fire, which filled 
the Church, and the place, and the wood 
alfo ; wherefore the people of Affifi in great 
hafte ran thither to put out the Fire, truly 
thinking that everything was burning. 
But on reaching the fpot, and finding no 
flames, they entered in, and found Saint 
Francis with Saint Clara, and with all their 
companions, abforbed in the contemplation 
of God, and fitting around that humble 
board. Whence they perceived that thofe 
were divine and not material flames, which 
God had caufed to appear miraculoufly, to 
Ihow forth and fignify the Fire of the Divine 
Love with which the fouls of thofe holy 
monks and nuns were confumed; where- 
fore they departed with great Confolation 
in their hearts, and with holy Edification. 
Then after a great fpace Saint Francis re- 
turning to himfelf, and likewife Saint Clara, 
together with the others, and feeling them- 
felves much comforted by the fpiritual food, 
they cared little for bodily fuftenance. And 
thus, this bleffed meal being ended. Saint 
Clara, well efcorted, returned to St. Damian ; 
whence her Sifters, feeing her coming, re- 
joiced greatly, inafmuch as they feared 
left Saint Francis had fent her to rule 

over 



Saint jFrantts of ^minu 69 

over fome other convent, even as he had 
already fent Sifter Agnes, her ghoftly fifter, 
as abbefs to rule over the monaftery of 
Monticelli at Florence ; and Saint Fran- 
cis had once faid to Saint Clara, " Be ready, 
if I need you, that I may fend you fome- 
whither,*' and Ihe, as befeemed a daugh- 
ter of Holy Obedience, had made anfwer, 
" Father, I am ever ready to go whither- 
foever you may fend me." And hence 
the Sifters rejoiced greatly when they faw 
her again among them : and Saint Clara 
thenceforth remained much confoled. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Ifo7£f Saint Francis received the Advice of Saint 
Clara and of Holy Brother Sylvefler^ that he 

fhould go forth and preach, converting the 
People ; and he created the Third Order, and 

preached to the Birds and fllenced the young 
Swallows. 

THAT humble fervant of Jefus Chrift, 
Saint Francis, fhortly after his con- 
verfion, having already gathered together 
many companions and received them into 

the 



70 2ri)t %ittlt Jflototri^ ot 

the Order, fell into deep thought and into 
grave doubt as to what he fhould do, — 
whether he Ihould devote himfelf wholly 
to prayer, or whether indeed he Ihould fome- 
times preach ; and on this fubjeft he greatly 
defired to know the will of God. And 
forafmuch as the Saintly Humility which 
was in him would not let him truft to him- 
felf or to his own prayers alone, he ftrove 
to feek out the Divine will through the 
prayers of others ; hence he called Brother 
Maximus, and fpake to him thus : " Go to 
Sifter Clara and tell her from me that fhe, 
with certain of her moft fpiritual compan- 
ions, ihall pray devoutly to God that it 
may pleafe Him to reveal to me whether 
it is better that I fhould devote myfelf 
to preaching, or merely to prayer. And 
then go to Brother Sylvefter and fay the 
fame words." This was that fame Mafter 
Sylvefter who had feen a golden crofs come 
forth from the mouth of Saint Francis, 
which was as high as the heavens and as 
broad as the confines of the globe. And 
fuch were the devotion and the fanftity of 
this fame Brother Sylvefter, that whatfo- 
ever he alked of God, even that fame he 
obtained, and his prayer was granted, and 

many 



cSafnt jFtanciis of ^nuiuu 71 

many times he fpake with God ; and yet 
Saint Francis alfo had great piety. Brother 
Maximus went forth, and according to the 
command of Saint Francis he fulfilled his 
errand firft to Saint Clara and then to 
Brother Sylvefter ; who, when he had re- 
ceived it, incontinently fell to praying, and 
praying he heard the Divine voice, and turn- 
ing to Brother Maximus he faid : " Thus 
faith the Lord, which you fhall repeat to 
Brother Francis, — that God did not call 
him unto this ftate for himfelf alone, but 
that he might reap a harveft of fouls, and 
many through him fhall be faved." Having 
this anfwer, Brother Maximus returned to 
Saint Clara to know that which fhe had 
obtained of God. And Ihe made anfwer 
that fhe and her Companions had had 
from God the felfsame anfwer which 
Brother Sylvefter had had. With this 
Brother Maximus returned to Saint Fran- 
cis ; and Saint Francis received him with 
the utmoft Affe6lion, wafhing his feet and 
laying the cloth for him to dine. And 
after eating, Saint Francis called Brother 
Maximus into the thick wood ; and there 
he knelt before him, and drawing down his 
Cowl over his face, he croffed his arms and 

afked 



72 STfie Utttle jFIotoers of 

afked him, faying, " What does my Lord 
and Mailer Jefus Chrift command me to 
do ? " Brother Maximus made anfwer r 
"Both to Brother Sylvefter and to Sifter 
Clara, with her Sifters, Chrift has replied 
and made manifeft that it is His will that 
you fhall go forth into the world to preach ; 
forafmuch as He did not call you for your- 
felf alone, but even alfo for the falvation of 
others/' And then Saint Francis, when that 
he had heard this anfwer and learned there- 
from the will of Jefus Chrift, rofe up with 
the greateft fervor, faying, " Let us go forth 
in the name of God." And he took for his 
Companions Brother Maximus and Brother 
Andrew, holy men both ; and going forth 
filled with the things of the Spirit, without 
confidering their road or their way, they 
came to a Caftle, which is called Savur- 
niano, and Saint Francis began to preach ; 
and he firft commanded the Swallows, which 
were fmging, to keep filence fo long as 
until he fhould have preached ; and the 
Swallows obeyed him ; and he preached in 
this place with fuch fervor that all the men 
and the women in that Caftle, from devotion, 
would have followed after him and forfaken 
the Caftle ; but Saint Francis forbade them, 

faying, 




SAINT FRANCIS PREACHING TO THE BIRDS. 

From the Painting by Giotto. 



Satnt fftmtiH of ^nninu 73 

faying, '' Be not in hafte, and depart not, 
and I will order all things which you are 
to do for the falvation of your foul." And 
then he created the Third Order, for the 
Univerfal Salvation of all men ; and thus 
leaving many confoled and well difpofed 
to penitence, he departed from thence and 
came to Cannajo and Bevagno. And paff- 
ing on his way with the felfsame fervor, he 
raifed his eyes and faw certain trees by the 
roadfide in which were an infinite multitude 
of birds ; at which Saint Francis marvelled 
greatly, and faid to his Companions, "Await 
me here in the road, and I will go and preach 
to my Sifters the birds/' And he entered 
the field and began to preach to the birds 
which were on the ground ; and fuddenly 
thofe which were in the trees came down 
to him, and as many as there were they all 
flood quietly until Saint Francis had done 
preaching ; and even then they did not 
depart until fuch time as he had given 
them his bleffmg; and according to the 
later recital of Brother Maximus to Brother 
James of Maffa, Saint Francis moving 
among them touched them with his cape, 
but not one moved. The fubftance of Saint 
Francis' fermon was this : " My Sifters the 

birds, 



74 STije WLittlt iFlotoeris of 

birds, ye are greatly beholden unto God 
your Creator, and always and in every 
place it is your duty to praife Him, foraf- 
much as He hath given you freedom to fly 
in every place ; alfo hath He given you rai- 
ment twofold and threefold almoft, becaufe 
He preferved your Seed in the ark of Noah, 
that your race might never be lefs. Again, 
ye are bounden to Him for the element of 
the air, which He has deputed unto you ; 
moreover, you fow not, neither do you 
reap, and God feeds you, and gives you the 
ftreams and fountains for your thirft ; He 
gives you mountains and valleys for your 
refuge ; tall trees wherein to make your 
nefts ; and inafmuch as you neither fpin 
nor weave, God clothes you, you and your 
children ; hence ye Ihould love your Crea- 
tor greatly, Who gives you fuch great bene- 
fits, and therefore beware, my Sifters, of the 
fin of ingratitude, and ever ftrive to praife 
God." Saint Francis faying thefe words 
to them, all thofe birds, as many as there 
were, began to ope their beaks and ftretch 
forth their necks and fpread their wings 
and reverently to bow their heads even to 
the earth, and by their a6ls and their fongs 
to fet forth that the Holy Father gave them 

the 



Saint ^vantiu ot ^nuiuu 75 

the utmoft delight; and Saint Francis re- 
joiced with them, pleafed and marvelling 
much to fee fo vaft a multitude of birds, 
and their moft beautiful variety, their at- 
tention and familiarity ; for the which 
things in them he devoutly praifed the 
Creator. Finally, his preaching ended, 
Saint Francis made them the fign of the 
Crofs and gave them leave to depart ; and 
then all thofe birds rofe into the air with 
wondrous fongs ; and then, according to 
the Crofs which Saint Francis had made 
them, they divided into four parts ; and 
the one part flew towards the eaft, and the 
other towards the weft, and the one part 
towards the fouth, and the other towards 
the north, and each band went away fmg- 
ing marvellous fongs ; fignifying by this how 
that Saint Francis, the Enfign of the Crofs 
of Chrift, had come to preach to them, and 
had made the fign of the Crofs over them, 
according to which they had fcattered to 
the four quarters of the globe. Thus the 
preaching of the Crofs of Chrift renewed by 
Saint Francis was by him and his Brethren 
borne throughout the whole world ; which 
Brethren, even as the birds, poffeffed noth- 
ing of this world's goods, but committed their 
life to the fole and only providence of God. 



76 3CSe 3LittU jFlotoers ot 



CHAPTER XVII. 

I/o7i/ a Francifcan Child^ while Saint Francis 
prayed by Nighty faw Chrijl and the Virgin 
Mary, and many other Saints with Him. 

AVERY pure and innocent child was 
received into the Order while Saint 
Francis yet lived ; and he abode in a fmall 
convent, wherein from fheer neceffity the 
Brethren flept in caft-off rags. Saint Fran- 
cis coming on a time to this place, at even- 
tide, Complines being faid, he went to fleep 
betimes, to the end that he might rife in 
the night to pray when the other Brothers 
flept, as was his wont. The faid child de- 
termined folicitoufly to watch the ways of 
Saint Francis, for the better acquaintance 
with his fan6lity, and efpecially to know 
that which he did at night when he arofe 
from bed. And to the end that fleep might 
not overtake him, this little lad lay down to 
fleep by the fide*of Saint Francis, and bound 
his girdle to that of Saint Francis, that he 
might have warning if he rofe up : and of 
this Saint Francis knew not aught. But 
in the firfl; fleep of night, when all the 

other 



Saint jfvmtiH of ^uuiuu yy 

other Brothers flumbered, he arofe and 
found his girdle thus bound, and loofed it 
pioufly, fo that the child was not awakened ; 
and Saint Francis ftraightway went out 
into the Wood, which was hard by that 
place, and entered into a tiny cell which 
was there and fell to praying. And after 
a certain fpace the child awoke, and finding 
the girdle loofed and Saint Francis arifen, 
he alfo rofe up and went about feeking 
him; and finding the door open whence 
he had iffued forth into the Wood, he imag- 
ined that Saint Francis had gone thither, 
and he alfo followed after into the Wood. 
And having drawn near to the fpot where 
Saint Francis was at prayer, he began to 
hear the murmur of many voices ; and 
drawing ever nearer to fee and to under- 
ftand that which he heard, he beheld a 
great and wondrous light which fhone 
round about Saint Francis, and therein he 
faw Chrift, and the Virgin Mary, and Saint 
John the Baptift, and Saint John the Evan- 
gelift, and a vaft multitude of Angels, who 
difcourfed with Saint Francis. Seeing and 
hearing thefe things, the child fell to the 
earth in a fwoon ; then, the Myftery of 
this holy apparition completed, and Saint 

Francis 



78 SCIje %itt\t iTlotoers of 

Francis being about to return to the con- 
vent, he found the child with his foot, — 
which is to fay, he ftumbled over him, — ly- 
ing like one dead ; and from compaffion he 
lifted him up and took him in his arms, as 
the good Shepherd does his Iheep. And 
then learning from him how that he had 
feen that felf same vifion, he commanded him 
never to fpeak of it to living man, that is, 
fo long as he himfelf Ihould yet live. The 
child, growing in the grace of God and the 
favor of Saint Francis, became a valiant 
member of the Order ; and he, after the 
death of Saint Francis, revealed the faid 
vifion to the Brethren. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

0/ the marvellous Chapter held by Saint Francis 
in the Church of St, Mary of the Angels y7v here 
were ajjembled more than five thoufa?id of the 
Brethren. 

FRANCIS, faithful fervant of Chrift, 
upon a time held a General Chapter 
at St. Mary of the Angels, at which fame 
Chapter were affembled more than five 

thoufand 



J 



Saint jFrancfs of ^nuiuu 79 

thoufand of the Brethren ; and there came 
thither Saint Dominic, the head and very 
foundation of the Order of Preaching or 
Dominican Friars, who was then jour- 
neying from Burgundy to Rome. And 
hearing of the congregation of the Chap- 
ter which Saint Francis had called to- 
gether upon the plain round about St. 
Mary of the Angels, he turned afide to 
fee it, with feven Brothers of his Order. 
There was furthermore at this Chapter a 
Cardinal moft pioufly attached to Saint 
Francis, to whom he had prophefied that 
he fhould yet be Pope, and even fo it was ; 
the which Cardinal had come expreffly 
from Perugia, where the Court abode, to 
Affifi ; daily he came to vifit Saint Fran- 
cis and his Brothers, and daily he fang the 
Mafs, and daily he preached a fermon to 
the Brethren in the Chapter ; and the faid 
Cardinal felt the utmoft devotion and de- 
light when he came to vifit that holy 
College. And feeing the Brethren fitting 
round about St. Mary's, rank on rank, here 
forty, here an hundred, and here eighty to- 
gether, all abforbed in difcourfmg of God, 
in Prayers and Lamentation, in a6ls of 
Charity, and they obferving fuch filence, 

and 



8o ^rse afttle jFloiDtrs of 

and fo great their modefty that no fainteft 
noife nor clamor was to be heard, and 
marvelling at fo orderly and fo vaft a multi- 
tude, with tears and much devotion he faid, 
*^ Verily, verily this is the Encampment and 
the Army of the Knights of God/' In all 
that multitude no man was heard recount- 
ing idle tales nor Jefts ; but wherever a 
band of Brothers was met together, either 
they prayed, or they read their Offices, or 
they bewailed their fins or thofe of their 
benefa6tors, or they difcourfed of the Salva- 
tion of their fouls. Upon that field were 
huts woven of hurdles or of reeds, divided 
into bands according to the Friars from 
various provinces ; and hence that Chapter 
was called the Chapter of the Hurdles and 
alfo of the Reeds. Their beds were the 
bare ground, and fome among them had a 
little ftraw ; their Pillows were of ftone or 
of wood ; by reafon of which all who heard 
or faw them felt much Admiration for their 
devotion. And fo great was the fame of 
their Sanftity, that there came thither from 
the Papal Court, which was then at Perugia, 
and from other parts of the Vale of Spo- 
leto, many counts, barons, cavaliers, and 
other gentlemen, and many country people 

and 



cSatnt Jfvmtin of muiHu 8i 

and Cardinals and Bifliops and Abbots with 
many other of the clergy to fee a congre- 
gation fo holy, fo vaft, and yet fo humble, 
for never before fmce the world began had 
fo many holy men been met together ; and 
chiefly they came to fee the Head and 
moft Holy Father of thefe faintly folk, 
which had robbed the world of fo fair a 
prey, and gathered together fo beauteous 
and fo devout a flock to follow in the foot- 
fteps of the true Shepherd Chrift Jefus. 
The entire General Chapter being then 
affembled, the Holy Father and Com- 
mander of all, Saint Francis, with fervent 
fpirit fet forth the Word of God, and 
preached to them in a loud voice the words 
which the Holy Ghoft put into his mouth ; 
and as the fubjeft of his fermon he fpake 
thefe words : " My fons, great things have 
we promifed unto God : far greater are 
promifed to us of God, if we keep our 
promifes unto Him : and we may furely 
await thofe which are promifed unto us. 
Brief are the pleafures of this World ; the 
pains that follow in their train are everlaft- 
ing ; flight are the Pangs of this life, but 
the Glory of the other life is infinite." 
And preaching devoutly upon this text, he 

comforted 
6 



82 srije atttit jFloiDttis of 

comforted and perfuaded the Brothers to 
obedience and reverence for their Holy 
Mother Church, and to brotherly a£fe6lion, 
and to worfhip God before all the people, 
to be patient in worldly Adverfity, and tem- 
perate in Profperity, to obferve Purity and 
angelic Chaftity, and to preferve peace and 
concord with God and with man and with 
their own confcience, and to love and pur- 
fue the moft Holy Poverty. And upon this 
point he fpake thefe words : *' I charge you, 
by the fruits of your holy vow of obedience, 
that all ye, who are gathered together here, 
take no thought to yourfelves, nor any 
heed for what ye Ihall eat, or Ihall drink, 
or wherewithal ye Ihall be clothed, but 
apply yourfelves only to praying and praif- 
ing God ; and leave all care for your bodies 
unto Him, forafmuch as He hath a fpecial 
care over you/' And every man among 
them, as many as there were there, received 
this command with a light heart and a cheer- 
ful face ; and Saint P>ancis having ended his 
fermon, they all fell to praying. At which 
Saint Dominic, who was prefent at thefe 
things, marvelled greatly at the charge of 
Saint Francis, and held him to be indif- 
creet, being unable to fancy how fo vaft a 

hoft 



<Saint jFrantis of ^uuiui. 83 

hoft could exift without taking any thought 
or heed for the things of the Body. But 
the great Shepherd Chrift the bleft, defir- 
ing to fhow how He cares for His Sheep 
and His Angular love for His poor follow- 
ers, ftraightway infpired the men of Perugia, 
of Spoleto, of Fuligno, of Spello, Affifi, 
and the other regions round about, to bear 
food and drink to that holy congregation. 
And lo fuddenly a great multitude of men 
came forth from the faid regions, with beafts 
of burden, horfes, and carts, laden with 
bread and wine, with honeycomb and with 
cheefe, and with other good things to eat, 
according as Chrift's poor had need. More- 
over they bore alfo napkins, jugs, bowls, 
glaffes, and other veffels, enough to ferve fo 
vaft a multitude : and he counted himfelf 
happy who could fet forth moft offer- 
ings or could moft acceptably ferve; in- 
inafmuch as even the Knights and Barons 
and other Gentlemen, who came thither to 
fee, ferved before them with great humility 
and devotion. Wherefore Saint Dominic, 
feeing thefe things, and knowing truly that 
a Divine Providence did work within them, 
humbly acknowledged that he had falfely 
judged Saint Francis as indifcreet in his 

commands ; 



84 ST^e WLittlt J^Iotoeti^ of 

commands ; and going before him, he 
knelt down and humbly confeffed his guilt, 
and added: "Verily God hath an efpecial 
care for thefe poor faints, and I knew it 
not ; and from this time forth I promife to 
obferve the Holy Poverty of the Gofpels, 
and I curfe in the name of God all thofe 
Brethren of my Order who fhall within 
that fame Order prefume to hold property/' 
Thus Saint Dominic was much edified by 
the faith of the moft holy Francis, and by 
the obedience to their vow of poverty dif- 
played by fo vaft and orderly a community, 
and by the Divine Providence and the copi- 
ous abundance of every good thing. At 
that fame Chapter fome faid to Saint Fran- 
cis that many of the Friars wore inftru- 
ments of torture next their Ikin, for the 
which thing many fell ill, and hence died, 
and many were thus prevented from prayer. 
At which Saint Francis, like a moft pru- 
dent Father, by his vow of Holy Obedi- 
ence charged every man who might wear 
fuch inftruments of torture, to ftrip them 
off and lay them before him, and fo it was 
done ; and they reckoned at leaft five hun- 
dred of one kind ; and fo many were there 
of iron rings taken from arms and breaft, 

that 



Saint jFrancts of ^uuinu 85 

that they formed a little mountain ; and 
Saint Francis left them where they lay. 
Then, the Chapter being ended, Saint 
Francis comforted them all mightily, and 
inftru6led them how they might live with- 
out fm in this wicked world, and fent them' 
all home, every man to his own Province, 
with the bleffmg of God, all greatly con- 
foled and full of fpiritual joy. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

Hbw the Grapes in the Vineyard of the Priejl 
of Rieti, in whofe Houfe Saint Francis prayed^ 
were trampled and plucked by the many People 
which came thither to him ; and then miracu- 
loujly made more Wine tha?t ever before, even 
as Saint Francis had promifed. And how 
the Lord revealed to Saint Fra7icis that 
Faradife fliould be his lot. 

SAINT FRANCIS being once aflfliaed 
with a grievous malady of the eyes, 
Cardinal Ugolino, Prote6lor of the Order, 
for the great love he bore him, wrote 
to him bidding him come to him at Rieti, 
where were moft excellent do6lors for the 
eyes. Then Saint Francis, having re- 
ceived 



86 sriie mtUt iFlotoeris of 

ceived the Cardinal's letter, fet forth 
firft to Saint Damian's, where dwelt Saint 
Clara, that moft faithful fpoufe of Chrift, 
to give her fome little confolation, and 
thence to journey to the Cardinal. Be- 
ing there, the next night Saint Francis 
found his eyes fo much worfe that he 
could fee no ray of light ; hence being 
unable to depart, Saint Clara made him a 
little cell of reeds wherein he might bet- 
ter reft. But Saint Francis, what with the 
anguifh of his eyes, and what with the multi- 
tude of rats and mice which did difturb him 
mightily, could find no Peace, neither by 
day nor by night. And enduring long thefe 
pangs and tribulations, he began to think 
and to fee that this was a fcourge fent by 
God to punifh him for his fins ; and he 
began to thank the Lord with his whole 
heart and with his lips, and then he cried 
out in a loud voice and faid : ** My Lord, 
worthy am I of this and of far worfe. My 
Lord Jefus Chrift, the Good Shepherd, who 
haft fhown Thy mercy to finners by various 
bodily pains and agonies, grant me. Thy 
rebellious fheep, grace and power to hold 
to Thee through all illnefs, anguifh, and 
pain." And in the midft of this prayer he 

heard 



heard a voice from Heaven, faying, " Fran- 
cis, anfwer me : Were all the earth gold, 
and all the feas and fprings and ftreams 
precious balm, and all the mountains and 
hills and rocks precious ftones, and you 
fliould find another treafure as much 
more noble than thefe things as gold 
is more noble than earth, and balm than 
clear water, and precious ftones than rocks 
and hills, and with this your affliftion you 
were given that far nobler treafure, fhould 
you not then be content indeed and happy 
of heart ? " Saint Francis made anfwer, 
faying, " Lord, I am not worthy of fuch a 
precious treafure ; " and the voice of God 
faid unto him, " Rejoice, Francis, and be 
exceeding glad, for this is the treafure of 
Life Eternal, which I referved for you, and 
with which from this time forth I inveft 
you ; and this your infirmity and aflfliftion 
is but the pledge and token of that Bleffed 
Treafure." Then Saint Francis called his 
Companion, with exceeding great joy at fo 
glorious a promife, and faid, " Let us fet 
forth to the Cardinal ;'' and comforting firfb 
Saint Clara with holy words, and fhe hum- 
bly taking leave of them, he took his way 
towards Rieti. And when he had drawn 

near 



88 m)t WLittlt jFIotoers of 

near, fo vaft a multitude of people came 
forth to meet him, that he could not there- 
fore enter into the city ; but he went to 
a Church, which was diftant perhaps two 
miles from the town. The citizens, know- 
ing that he was within that Church, ran 
thither in fuch numbers to behold him, 
that the vineyard of the faid Church was 
laid wafte, and the grapes were all gath- 
ered ; at which the Prieft was greatly 
grieved within himfelf, and repented that 
he had received Saint Francis. The 
Prieft's thought being revealed of God 
to Saint Francis, he called him before 
him, faying : " Beloved Father, how many 
meafures of wine does your vineyard yield 
you in the beft of years ? '* He anfwered, 
"Twelve meafures.'* Saint Francis faid: 
**I pray you. Father, patiently to permit 
me to abide with you yet a few days, 
forafmuch as I find much reft here, and 
fuffer every man to pluck the grapes of 
this your vineyard, for the love of God, 
and of me a poor beggar ; and I promife 
you in the name of my Mafter Chrift Jefus, 
that it fhall yield you every year twenty 
meafures.'* And this did Saint Francis to 
the end that he might fojourn there, where 

he 



cSatnt jFrancis of ^nuinu 89 

he reaped a rich harveft of fouls, from 
the multitude that came thither; many of 
whom departed thence drunk with Divine 
Love, and forfook the world. The Prieft had 
faith in the promife of Saint Francis, and 
freely fuffered all who came to pluck the 
grapes. Wonderful to relate ! The vine- 
yard was laid wafte and bare fo that fcarce 
a clufter of grapes remained upon the vine. 
The time for the vintage came, and the 
Prieft gathered in thofe fcanty clufters, and 
placed them in the prefs and trod them 
out, and according to the promife of Saint 
Francis they yielded him twenty meafures 
of the beft wine. By which miracle is mani- 
feftly fet forth, that as by the merits of 
Saint Francis the vine ftripped of its 
grapes yet abounded in wine, fo the Chrif- 
tian people, made bare of virtues by their 
fins, through the merits and do6lrine of 
Saint Francis ofttimes abound in the good 
fruits of repentance. 



90 ^fjt JLittlt iFlotocrs ot 



CHAPTER XX. 

0/ a very fair Vijlon, Jeen by a young Friar^ 
who held the Cowl in fuch abomination that 
He was difpofed to lay afide his Habit and for- 
fake the Order, 

A CERTAIN very noble and delicate 
youth entered the Order of Saint 
Francis ; the which after the fpace of fome 
days, by the inftigation of the Devil, began 
to hold the Habit which he wore in fuch 
abomination, that he feemed to wear the 
vileft fackcloth ; he had a loathing for the 
fleeves, he abhorred the cowl, and its 
length and harlhnefs feemed to him an 
unbearable burden. And his diftafte for 
the Religious Life ever increafmg, he at 
laft propofed to give up the Habit and re- 
turn to the world. It had become his cuf- 
tom, according as he had been taught by 
his mafter, to kneel moft reverently at what- 
soever hour he might pafs before the altar 
of the Convent whereon the Body of Chrift 
was kept, and drawing his cowl over his 
head, to bow low with croffed arms. It 
happened, that upon the felfsame night 

wherein 



cSatnt iTtancis of ^nninu 91 

wherein he was to depart and go forth 
from the Order, he was forced to pafs be- 
fore the Convent Altar ; and paffmg, as 
was his wont, he knelt and made a humble 
reverence. And fuddenly he was rapt in 
an ecftafy, and was fhown by God a won- 
drous Vifion, forafmuch as he faw before 
him an almoft infinite number of faints, 
walking as in proceffion, two by two, ar- 
rayed in moft fair and precious robes of 
linen, and their faces and their hands 
fhone like the fun, and they paffed along 
with angelic fongs and founds ; among 
which faints were two more nobly clad and 
adorned than all the others, and they were 
fet round about with fuch luftre that all 
who gazed upon them were filled with 
exceeding great Awe ; and almoft at the 
end of the proceffion he faw one decked 
with fuch glory that he feemed a new-made 
knight, more honored than the reft. This 
youth beholding the faid vifion, marvelled 
and knew not what this proceffion was 
meant to fignify, and he ventured not to 
afk any man, but remained ftruck dumb 
with the delight of it. And neverthelefs 
all the proceflion having paffed him by, he 
plucked up his fpirits and ran forthwith to 

the 



92 Kfit SLtttle jFIotoers of 

the laft men in it ; and with great dread, 
he afked them, faying : "Oh, my Beloved, 
I pray you that it may pleafe you to tell 
me who are thefe wondrous beings, which 
feem fo glorious in this proceffion ? '' And 
they made anfwer : ** Know, O fon, that 
we are all Gray Friars, who come hither 
from the fplendors of Paradife/' And he 
again queftioned them, faying : " Who are 
yonder two, who fhine yet more radiant 
than the reft ? '* They made anfwer : 
"Thofe are Saint Francis and Saint An- 
tony ; and that laft, whom you fee fo 
greatly honored, is a Holy Brother who 
died but newly ; who, forafmuch as he 
fought valiantly againft all temptation, 
and perfevered unto the end, we conduft 
in triumph to the glories of Paradife ; and 
thefe garments of fair linen, wherewith we 
are arrayed, are given us of God in exchange 
for the coarfe tunics which patiently we 
wore in the Religious Order ; and the glo- 
rious luftre which you fee round about us 
is given us of God for the Humility and Pa- 
tience and for the Holy Poverty and Obe- 
dience and Chaftity which we obferved unto 
the end. And therefore, fon, hold it not 
hard to bear the fackcloth of Religion which 

is 



Saint jFtamfs of ^nuinu 93 

is fo fruitful of reward ; forafmuch, as if 
with the fackcloth of Saint Francis, for 
love of Chrift, you defpife the world, and 
mortify the flefh, and fight a good fight 
againft the Foul Fiend, you fhall have rai- 
ment like unto that which we do wear, and 
a glory of light." And having heard thefe 
words, the youth returned to his fenfes, 
and greatly comforted by the vifion, he 
drove far from him all temptation, and con- 
feffed his fin before his Superior and the 
Brethren; and from that time forth he 
ardently longed for afperity of penitence 
and of attire, and ended his life in the 
Order in great holinefs. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

0/ the Mojl Holy Miracle, which Saint Francis 
performed, when he converted the very fierce 
Wolf at Gubbio, 

IN the days when Saint Francis dwelt in 
the city of Gubbio, there appeared in 
that region a very great, terrible, and fierce 
Wolf, the which not only devoured animals, 
but even alfo men ; infomuch that all the 

citizens 



94 ®^Sc %ittlt iFlotoers ot 

citizens of that place flood in great dread of 
him ; forafmuch as many times he came very 
near to the town ; and neverthelefs none 
who chanced to meet with him alone could 
in any wife defend himfelf againft him. 
And fo great was the fear of this Wolf, 
that none ventured forth into the country. 
Wherefore Saint Francis, having compaf- 
fion upon the men of that land, defired to 
go forth unto this Wolf, — albeit the citi- 
zens, every man among them,counfelled him 
againft it, — and making the fign of the Moft 
Holy Crofs, he fet forth into the country 
round about, he with his Companions, put- 
ting all his truft in God. And the others 
doubting whether they fhould go farther, 
Saint Francis took his way towards the 
place where the Wolf lay. And lo, feeing 
fo many citizens, who had come forth to 
fee fuch a miracle, the faid Wolf came 
out to meet Saint Francis with open 
mouth ; and drawing near to him, Saint 
Francis made the fign of the Mofl Holy 
Crofs, and called unto him, faying: "Come 
hither. Brother Wolf ; I command you in the 
name of Chrift Jefus, that you do no manner 
of evil either to me or to any other man." 
Wonderful to relate ! Immediately that 

Saint 



Satnt jFrantis of ^nuinu 95 

Saint Francis made the fign of the Crofs, 
the terrible Wolf clofed his jaws and gave 
over running ; and hearing this command, 
he came meekly as any lamb, and laid him- 
felf down at the feet of Saint Francis. 
And thereupon Saint Francis addreffed 
him in thefe words, faying : *^ Brother Wolf, 
you do much harm in thefe parts, and you 
have done great evil, killing and devour- 
ing God's creatures without His fovereign 
leave. And not only have you killed and 
devoured beafts, but you have dared to kill 
men, made in the image of God ; for the 
which thing you are worthy of the gallows, 
like any thief and villanous murderer ; and 
all the people cry out and murmur againft 
you, and all the land is hoftile unto you. 
But I defire. Brother Wolf, to make peace 
between you and them, fo that you may 
offend no more, and they fhall forgive you 
all your paft offences, and neither men nor 
dogs fhall purfue you any more/* Having 
uttered thefe words, the Wolf by the mo- 
tions of his body and his tail and his eyes, 
and by bowing his head, fet forth that he 
accepted that which Saint Francis faid, and 
defired to obferve it. Then Saint Francis 
began again : " Brother Wolf, inafmuch as it 

pleafes 



96 t;i)e Sltttle iFloiuers of 

pleafes you to make and to keep this peace, 
I promife you that I will fee to it that your 
living fhall be given you continually, fo 
long as you fhall live, by the men of this 
country, fo that you fhall not fuffer hunger; 
forafmuch as I am well aware that hunger 
has caufed your every crime. But fmce I 
get for you this grace, I require, Brother 
Wolf, your promife never again to do harm 
to any human being, neither to any beafl. 
Do you promife ? '' And the Wolf, by bow- 
ing his head, plainly gave fign that he 
promifed. And Saint Francis faid farther: 
'^ Brother Wolf, I defire you to give me 
fome token of this your promife, although 
I have full faith in your loyalty.'* And 
Saint Francis ftretching forth his hand, the 
Wolf lifted up his right paw and confid- 
ingly laid it in the hand of Saint Francis, 
giving him this pledge of his faith, as beft 
he could. And then Saint Francis faid : 
*' Brother Wolf, I charge you in the name 
of Chrift Jef us that you now follow me, noth- 
ing doubting, and we will go forth and con- 
clude this peace in God's name." And the 
Wolf obediently followed after him, like any 
lamb ; fo that the citizens, feeing this, mar- 
velled greatly. And fuddenly the news was 

fpread 



Saint jFtancts ot ^nninu 97 

fpread throughout all the city : fo that the 
people, men as well as women, great as well 
as fmall, young as well as old, flocked to 
the market-place to behold the Wolf with 
Saint Francis. And all the people being 
gathered together, Saint Francis rofe up 
and began to preach to them, faying among 
other things : *' Inafmuch as for your fins, 
God hath permitted certain evil things and 
fundry peftilences ; and far more danger- 
ous as are the flames of Hell, which en- 
dure eternally for the damned, than is the 
wrath of the Wolf, which can but kill the 
body, — so much more therefore fliould 
ye fear the jaws of Hell, when the mouth 
of one fmall animal can terrify and alarm 
fo vaft a multitude ! Turn then, my Be- 
loved, unto God, and repent worthily of 
your fins, and God fhall rid you of the Wolf 
in this prefent time, and of the fires of Hell 
in time to come." And having preached, 
Saint Francis faid : "Hearken, my Brethren : 
Brother Wolf, who ftands here before you, 
hath promifed and given me a token of his 
good faith to make peace with you, and 
never to offend you more in anything what- 
foever ; and you mufl: promife henceforth to 
give him daily all that is needful to him, 

7 and 



98 3Ct)e %ittU iFloiutrs of 

and I will be bailfman for him, that he will 
firmly hold to his compa6l of peace." Then 
all the people with one accord promifed to 
feed him continually. And Saint Francis, 
before them all, faid to the Wolf: "And you, 
Brother Wolf, do you promife to keep the 
peace with thefe people, and to offend no 
more againft men, neither againft beafts, 
nor any other creatures ? " And the Wolf 
knelt before him, and bowed his head, 
and with fubmiffive motions of body and 
tail and ears fhowed in fo far as he was 
able, that he would keep his every prom- 
ife. Saint Francis faid: "Brother Wolf, I 
defire that even as you gave me a pledge 
of this your promife outfide the gates, fo 
here before all thefe people you fhall give 
me a token of your good faith, and that 
you will not cheat me of my promife and 
fecurity which I have given for you." Then 
the Wolf, lifting up his right paw, laid it in 
the hand of Saint Francis. Upon this ac- 
tion and upon thofe which had gone before, 
there was fuch rejoicing and fuch marvel- 
ling in all the people, both at the devotion 
of the Saint, and at the novelty of the 
miracle, and at the peace with the Wolf, 
that all began to cry aloud unto Heaven, 

praifing 



Saint jFtancts of ^nniuu 99 

praifing and bleffing God, that had fent 
unto them Saint Francis, who by his great 
merits had freed them from the mouth of 
this cruel beaft. And then the faid Wolf 
lived two years in Gubbio, and entered 
meekly into every houfe, going from door 
to door, doing no manner of mifchief to 
any man, and none being done to him. And 
he was courteoufly nourifhed by the peo- 
ple ; and roaming thus through the land 
and from houfe to houfe, never any dog 
barked at his coming in or at his going 
out. Finally, after two years, Brother Wolf 
died of old age ; at the which the citizens 
mourned much, inafmuch as feeing him 
moving fo meekly through the city, they 
were the more mindful of the virtue and 
fanftity of Saint Francis. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

Ifow Saint Francis tamed the wild Turtle-Doves, 

ABO Y one day took a number of turtle- 
doves, and carrying them to the 
market-place for fale, he met Saint Fran- 
cis, who ever felt fmgular compaffion for 

all 



ICO m)t atttlt iFloiutts nf 

all gentle animals. Gazing at thefe turtle- 
doves with pitiful eyes, he faid to the boy: 
" Oh, good youth, give them to me, I pray 
you ; nor fuffer birds fo meek and gentle, 
to whom chafte, humble, and faithful fouls 
are likened in the Scriptures, to fall into 
the hands of cruel men, who will flay 
them." The boy, fuddenly infpired of 
God, gave them all to Saint Francis; and 
he receiving them in his bofom, began to 
fpeak fweetly unto them : " O my Sifters, 
fimple, chafte, and innocent doves, why did 
ye fuffer yourf elves to be taken ? I would 
now refcue you from death, and make nefls 
for you, that ye may increafe and bring 
forth young, according to the command of 
the Lord our God." And Saint Francis 
went forth, and made nefts for every one ; 
and they, ufing them, began to lay eggs, 
and to bring forth young before the 
Friars ; " and fo tame were they and con- 
forted fo freely with Saint Francis and the 
other Friars," as they had been hens and 
^ver fed from their hands, and departed not 
from among them, until Saint Francis with 
his bleffmg gave them leave to fly thence. 
And to the boy who gave them to him 
Saint Francis faid : " Son, you fhall yet be 

a 



cSaCnt iFrantis of ^nuinu loi 

a brother in this Order, and Ihall ferve 
Chrift Jefus worthily," and fo it was ; foraf- 
much as the boy became a friar and lived 
in the Order with great fan6lity. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

ffbw Saint Francis fet free the Friar who had 
finned with the aid of the DeviL 

SAINT FRANCIS, being once at prayer 
within the Convent of Portiuncula, 
beheld by Divine Revelation all that Con- 
vent furrounded and befieged of Demons, 
after the manner of an huge army ; but 
none among them could enter into the 
Convent, forafmuch as thofe friars were of 
fuch fanftity, that the Demons found no 
man among them into whom they might 
enter. But perfevering thus, upon a cer- 
tain day, one of thofe fame friars grew angry 
with another one, and took counfel with his 
own heart, how he might accufe him and 
take vengeance upon him ; for the which 
thing, he cherifhing thus this evil thought, 
the Demon, finding the door open, entered 
in and placed himfelf upon the neck of that 

fame 



I02 STi&e nettle jFlotoers df 

fame friar. The pious and careful Shep- 
herd, who watcheth ever over his flocks, 
feeing therefore that the Wolf had entered 
in to devour his Sheep, fuddenly furamoned 
that friar before him, and charged him that 
he fhould forthwith confefs the Poifon of 
Hate conceived of him againfl his neighbor, 
whereby he had fallen into the hands of the 
Enemy. Upon which he, frighted to feel 
himfelf read of the Holy Father, ftraight- 
way made known all his venom and rancor, 
and revealed his guilt, and humbly begged 
for juftice tempered with mercy; and this 
done, being abfolved from his fin, and hav- 
ing received his punifhment, fuddenly, be- 
fore the face of Saint Francis, the Demon 
departed thence ; and the friar thus fet 
free from the hands of the cruel Beaft, 
through the kindnefs of the good Shepherd, 
gave thanks unto God : and returning chaf- 
tened and correfted to the flock of the 
Holy Shepherd, thenceforth lived in great 
fanftity. 



Saint jfvantiu of ^uuiuu 103 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

jSow Saint Francis converted the Sultan of 
Babylon to the Faith, 

SAINT FRANCIS, led by zeal for the 
faith of Chrift and by his longing for 
martyrdom, went upon a time acrofs the 
feas with twelve of his moft Holy Compan- 
ions, bent upon going ftraight to the Sultan 
of Babylon ; and coming into a region of 
Saracens, where the roads were guarded 
by certain men fo cruel, that no Chriftian 
who paffed that way could efcape death, it 
pleafed God that they were not flain, but 
captured, beaten, and bound, and were led 
before the Sultan. And being before him, 
Saint Francis, taught of the Holy Ghoft, 
preached fo divinely concerning the faith 
of Chrift, how that for that faith he would 
even walk through fire. Upon which the 
Sultan began to feel exceeding great admi- 
ration for him, both for the Steadfaftnefs 
of his Faith, and for the Contempt for the 
World which he perceived in him, — inaf- 
much as he would receive no gift from him, 
being yet moft poor, — and as well for the 

martyr's 



I04 ^CSe afttle jplointvn ot 

martyr's fervor, which was apparent in 
him. Thenceforth the Sultan hearkened 
unto him gladly, and begged him that he 
would return to him oft, freely conceding 
to him and to his Mates that they fliould 
preach wherefoever it feemed good to them ; 
and he gave them a token, which fhould let 
no man offend them. . . . Finally, Saint 
Francis feeing by Divine Revelation that 
he could reap no more fruits in thofe 
parts, difpofed all things to return with his 
Companions to the land of the Faithful ; 
and calling them all together, he went into 
the prefence of the Sultan, and took leave 
of him. And then faid the Sultan unto 
him : " Brother Francis, I would gladly be- 
come a convert to the faith of Chrift, but 
I fear to do fo now ; forafmuch, as fhould 
my people be ware of it, they would flay 
both you and me and all your Companions ; 
and feeing that you may yet do many good 
works, and I have many weighty matters 
to defpatch, I would not now occafion your 
death and mine. But teach me, I pray, how 
I may be faved ; I am prepared to do that 
which you may lay upon me." Then faid 
Saint Francis : " Sir, I now take my leave of 
you ; but when that I am once more in mine 

own 



cSafnt jf^xmtiu ot ^uniuu 105 

own country and afcend into Heaven by 
the Grace of God ; after my death, if it be 
pleafmg in the fight of God, I will fend 
unto you two of my Brethren, from whom 
you fhall receive the holy baptifm of Chrift, 
and you fhall be faved, even as my Lord 
Jefus Chrift hath revealed unto me. And 
do you betwixt now and then defpatch all 
your matters, to the end that when the 
Grace of God ftiall come to you it may find 
you well armed with faith and devotion." 
And thus he promifed to do and did. This 
done, Saint Francis returned home with 
the venerable train of his holy Compan- 
ions, and after fome years Saint Francis 
by his bodily death rendered up his foul 
to God. And the Sultan falling ill was 
mindful of the promife of Saint Francis, 
and ftationed guards at certain points, and 
commanded that if two friars Ihould appear 
clad in the garb of Saint Francis they 
fhould inftantly be brought before him. 
At that time Saint Francis appeared unto 
two friars, and charged them that they 
Ihould go without delay unto the Sultan 
and procure his falvation, even as he had 
promifed : the which friars ftraightway 
arofe, and paffing over the fea, were by the 

faid 



io6 ar^e %ittlt jFloto^rs ot 

faid guards led before the Sultan ; and fee- 
ing them, the Sultan rejoiced greatly and 
faid : "Now, indeed, I know that God hath 
fent his fervants unto me for my falvation, 
according to the promife made me by Saint 
Francis through divine Revelation." Re- 
ceiving then the doftrines of the faith of 
Chrift, and Holy Baptifm of thofe fame 
friars, thus born again in Chrift, he died of 
that illnefs, and his foul was faved by the 
merits and the prayers of Saint Francis. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

How Saint Francis miraculoujly healed the Leper 
in Body and in Soul ; and that which the Soul 
Jpake, afcending into Heaven, 

THAT true difciple of Chrift, Saint Fran- 
cis, living in this miferable life, with 
all his ftrength ftrove ever to follow Chrift, 
the Perfe6l Way, whence it ofttimes befell 
by divine aftion that v\rhereas he healed a 
man's body, God did heal his foul in that 
felfsame hour, even as we read of Chrift. 
And inafmuch as He not only freely be- 
came the fervant of Lepers, but further- 
more 



cSaCut iFtancts ot ^Huinu 107 

more ordered that the Brothers of his 
Order, whether journeying or fojourning 
anywhere in this world, fhould become the 
fervants of Lepers for the love of Chrift, who 
for our love was fain to be held a Leper, 
it fell out that on a time at a Convent near 
which Saint Francis was then abiding, the 
Brethren were ferving in ahofpital for Lep- 
ers and infirm ; in which was a Leper fo 
peevifh, fo intolerable, and fo arrogant that 
all men affuredly deemed, and fo indeed it 
was, that he was poffeffed of a Devil, foraf- 
much as alike with words and with blows 
he terribly reviled all them that ferved him ; 
nay, yet worfe, he fcandaloufly blafphemed 
againft the bleffed Chrift and his moft Holy 
Mother the Virgin Mary, fo that none 
could in any wife be found who could or 
would ferve him. And albeit the Brethren 
truly ftudy meekly to endure injuries and 
infults to themfelves, to the end that pa- 
tience may have her perfe6l work, never- 
thelefs, thofe to Chrift and his Mother 
their confciences could not fuffer, and 
every man among them determined to 
leave the faid Leper : but this they would 
not do before they had duly declared their 
purpofe unto Saint Francis, who was then 

abiding 



io8 2ri)t autlc jFlotoer^ of 

abiding at a Convent hard by. And hav- 
ing fignified to him their purpofe, Saint 
Francis came unto that perverfe Leper ; and 
drawing nigh to him, he greeted him, fay- 
ing : " God grant thee peace, my beloved 
Brother." The Leper made anfwer, " What 
peace can I have of God, Which hath robbed 
me of peace and of every good thing, and 
hath made me all corrupt and ftinking ? " 
And Saint Francis faid, " Son, have pa- 
tience, forafmuch as the infirmities of the 
body are given us of God in this world 
for the falvation of our foul, they being of 
exceeding merit when they are borne 
meekly." The fick man replied, ''And can 
I endure the continual Pain that torments 
me night and day ? And not only am I 
affli6led by mine infirmity, but far worfe do 
I fuffer from the Brethren whom you have 
given me to wait upon me, and they ferve 
me not as they fhould." Then Saint Fran- 
cis, knowing by a revelation that this Leper 
was poffeffed of an evil fpirit, went out and 
prayed, and entreated God pioufly for him. 
And his prayer ended, he returned to him 
again and fpake thefe words : '* My Son, 
I myfelf will ferve you, fmce you are ill- 
content with the others." ** It pleafeth me 

well," 



<Safnt jFtancis at ^UHiuU 109 

well," faid the fick man ; '' but what can 
you do for me more than the others ? " 
Saint Francis anfwered, " Whatfoever you 
would that I Ihould do.'* Said the Leper, 
" I would that you wafh me, every inch of 
me ; forafmuch as fo terribly I ftink that 
I myfelf can ill endure it/' Then Saint 
Francis ftraight commanded water to be 
heated with many fweet-fmelling herbs ; 
then ftripping him, he began to wafh him 
with his own hands, another Brother pour- 
ing on the water ; and by a divine mira- 
cle, wherefoever Saint Francis laid his 
holy hands upon him the Leprofy left him 
and his flefh remained perfe6lly found. 
And even as his flefh began to heal, fo too 
his foul began to be made whole ; hence 
the Leper feeing himfelf beginning to be 
cured, began to have great compunftion 
and repentance for his fms, and began to 
weep very bitterly ; for as his body was 
cleanfed of the Leprofy from without by the 
walhing of the water, even fo his foul was 
cleanfed of Sin from within by corre6lion 
and tears. And being wholly healed, alike 
in body and in foul, he humbly con- 
feffed himfelf guilty, and cried aloud, weep- 
ing : " Woe unto me, for I am worthy of 

Hell-fire 



no srse ILittlt jFlotoets of 

Hell-fire for the injuries and infults which 
I have heaped upon the Brethren, and for 
the peevifhnefs and blafphemy which I 
have manifefted towards God." Hence for 
two long weeks he perfevered in bitter 
tears for his fins, and in befeeching mercy 
from God, making ample confeffion to the 
Prieft. And Saint Francis, feeing fo plain 
a miracle, which God had wrought by his 
hand, gave thanks to the Lord and de- 
parted thence, going into remote countries : 
forafmuch as from Humility he defired to 
flee all Vainglory, and in all his a6ls fought 
only the Honor and Glory of God and not 
his own. Then, as was pleafmg in the 
fight of God, the faid Leper, made whole 
in body and in foul, after two long weeks 
of penitence fell ill of another malady, and 
armed with the Sacraments of the Church 
he died a holy death, and his foul going 
into Paradife appeared in mid-air to Saint 
Francis, who was at prayer in a thick wood, 
and faid unto him, " Know you me ? '' ** Who 
are you ? '' faid Saint Francis. " I am that 
Leper whom the bleffed Chrift healed for 
your merits, and to-day I enter into Eternal 
Life : for which I give thanks to God and 
to you. Bleffed be your foul and your 

body; 



Saint iFtancts of ^uuinu 1 1 1 

body ; and bleffed be your holy words and 
deeds ; forafmuch as through you many 
fouls fhall be faved in this world : and 
know that no day paffeth in this world 
upon which the Holy Angels and the other 
Saints do not thank the Lord for the facred 
fruits which you and your Order have 
gathered in divers parts of the earth ; and 
therefore be you greatly comforted and 
praife the Lord, and His bleffing fhall reft 
upon your head." And faying thefe words 
he rofe into Heaven, and Saint Francis was 
left much comforted. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

How Saint Francis co7iverted three Thieves and 
Murderers y and made them Brethren ; and of 
the mojl glorious Vijion beheld of one of them 
who was a mofl holy Brother. 

SAINT FRANCIS went once through 
the defert of Borgo to San Sepolcro, 
and paffing by a Caftle, which was called 
Monte Cafale, there came forth to meet 
him a noble and delicate Youth, who faid 
to him, " Father, I would gladly become 

one 



112 STfit %itHt iFlotoeti^ of 

one of your Brethren.*' Saint Francis an- 
fwered him, *' Son, you are young, delicate, 
and noble ; peradventure you could not en- 
dure the poverty and rudenefs of our life/' 
And he faid, " Father, are ye not men like 
unto me ? Then that which ye do bear can 
I alfo endure by the favor of Jefus Chrift." 
This anfwer was moft pleafmg to Saint Fran- 
cis ; wherefore, bleffing him, he ftraightway 
received him into the Order and put upon 
him the name of Brother Angelo ; and fo 
worthily did the Youth comport himfelf, 
that but a brief fpace thence Saint Fran- 
cis made him Superior of that felfsame 
Convent of Monte Cafale. In thofe days 
that region was infefted by three thieves 
of much renown, who greatly plagued the 
land ; the fame came one day to the abode 
of the Brethren and prayed the faid Brother 
Angelo, the Superior, that he would feed 
them ; and the Father Superior anfwered 
them after this fafhion, reproaching them 
forely : "You, Thieves and cruel Homicides, 
ye are not afhamed to fteal the wages of 
other men's toil ; nay, more, bold and 
fancy that ye are, ye would fain devour the 
alms which are beftowed upon the fervants 
of God ; ye are unworthy that the earth 

fliould 



Saint ifrancts of ^uuiuu 113 

fliould fuftain ye ; forafmuch as ye have no 
reverence either for man, or for the God 
which created ye. Go, therefore, about your 
bufinefs, and appear no more within thefe 
walls ; " upon which they, being difturbed, 
departed thence much wroth. And behold, 
Saint Francis returning home with bread 
and a fmall veffel of wine which he and 
his Companions had begged, and the Supe- 
rior, narrating to him how he had driven 
thofe men thence. Saint Francis blamed 
him much, faying that he had borne him- 
felf barbaroufly ; inafmuch as fmners were 
more readily led back to God by mildnefs 
than by fierce reproof: hence our Mafter 
Jefus Chrift, whofe Gofpel we have prom- 
ifed to obferve, faid that He came not to 
heal thofe who were whole, but the fick ; 
and that He came not to call the juft but 
fmners to repent : wherefore many times 
He brake bread with them. Seeing, there- 
fore, that you have fmned againft charity and 
againft the holy Gofpel of Chrift, I charge you 
by your vows of obedience that ftraightway 
you do take this Scrip with Bread, and this 
Veffel of Wine, and haften after them, over 
mountains and through valleys, until you 
Ihall find them, and prefent them with 

8 this 



1 14 STijc %ittlz jFlototri^ of 

this Bread and Wine in my name; and then 
fhall you kneel before them and humbly 
confefs to them your fm and your cruel con- 
du6l, and entreat them then in my name to 
do no more evil, but to fear God and offend 
no more againft His Holy Name; and if 
they will do fo, I promife to provide for 
their wants and to give them a conftant 
ftore to eat and to drink : and when that 
you have told them this, return hither 
humbly." While the faid Superior went 
forth to do Saint Francis' bidding, he fell 
on his knees and prayed God that He 
would foften the hearts of thofe Thieves 
and lead them to repent. The obedient 
Superior meeting them offered them the 
Bread and Wine and faid thofe words which 
Saint Francis had taught him. And as it 
pleafed God, thofe Thieves eating the alms 
beftowed by Saint Francis began to fay 
to one another : " Woe unto us, haplefs 
wretches ! and what bitter pangs fhall we 
endure in Hell ! For not only do we rob 
our fellow-men with ftripes and cruel blows, 
but we alfo flay them ;. nor for all thefe 
wicked and accurfed deeds which we do, do 
we feel any remorfe or fear of God, and be- 
hold this holy Brother, which hath followed 

us 



Saint J^tantiu of ^nuiuu 1 1 5 

us hither for a few words with which he 
juftly chid our Evil Craft, and hath humbly 
confeffed to us his guilt, and moreover 
hath beftowed on us Bread and Wine, and 
fuch liberal promifes from the Holy Father: 
verily thefe Holy Brethren are men of God, 
which are well worthy of Paradife ; and we 
are fons of everlafhing perdition, who are 
well worthy of the fires of Hell, and every 
day does but add to our perdition ; and we 
know not whether for the many fms which 
we have hitherto committed we can yet 
turn to the mercy of God." Thefe and 
fimilar words being fpoken by one among 
them, the others faid : " Surely you do 
fpeak the truth, but what are we to do ? " 
" Let us go," faid one, " to Saint Francis, 
and if he give us hope that we may ftill 
appeal to the Mercy of God for our fms, we 
will do whatfover he may command, and 
fo we may fet our fouls free from the pains 
of Hell." This counfel was pleafing in 
the fight of the others ; and all three 
agreeing together among themfelves pro- 
ceeded in hot hafle to Saint Francis and 
faid to him thus : " Father, fo great and fo 
terrible are our fins that we fear we can no 
longer turn to the Mercy of God : but if you 

have 



ii6 e;Ijc %ittlt iFlototrs ot 

have any hope that God will grant us His 
Mercy, behold we are ready to do whatfo- 
ever you fhall bid us, and to do penitence 
with you/' Then Saint Francis, detaining 
them affeftionately and with kindnefs, com- 
forted them with many inftances, and affur- 
ing them of the Mercy of God, promifed 
them truly to entreat God for them, and 
Ihowed them that the Mercy of God is infi- 
nite : and if we have an infinite number of 
fins, yet God's Mercy is greater ftill than 
our fins, according to the teachings of the 
Gofpel ; and the Apofl:le Paul faith, '' Chrift 
came into the world to fave finners/' Hear- 
ing thefe words, and other like teachings, 
the faid three Thieves renounced the Devil 
and all his works. Saint Francis received 
them into the Order, and they began to do 
fore penitence; and two of them lived not 
long after their converfion, and went thence 
to Paradife. But the third furviving, and 
meditating on his fins, gave himfelf such 
penitence to do, that for fifteen years con- 
tinually, befide the ordinary fafts, which 
he obferved in common with the other 
Brothers, three days in every week he 
fafted upon bread and water, and went 
even barefoot, and with but a fingle tunic 

to 



cSatnt jFtancts ot mnniuu 117 

to his back, fleeping never after Matins. 
About that time Saint Francis paffed away 
from this miferable life. This Man hav- 
ing then continued the above penitence 
for many years, behold one night, after 
Matins, there came to him fuch a tempta- 
tion to fleep, that in no manner could he 
hold out againft it and watch, as was his 
wont. Finally, unable longer to refift or 
to pray, he went to his bed to flumber ; 
and no fooner had he laid his head upon 
the pillow, than he was rapt in Ecftafy 
and led in fpirit to a very high mountain, 
whereon was a moft fteep Precipice, and 
here and there were rocks Ihivered and 
fplintered and rugged crags amid the 
rocks: at the fight of this cliff the Soul 
flood aghaft. And the Angel who led this 
Brother feized him and caft him over the 
rugged edge of thofe rocks : and he, ftrik- 
ing and rebounding from crag to crag and 
from ftone to ftone, at laft attained the 
bottom of that precipice, as it feemed, 
all difmembered and torn ; and lying thus 
in evil trim upon the ground, he who led 
him, faid unto him, " Rife, for you have 
yet another journey to go/' The Brother 
replied, '' Mefeems you be a moft cruel and 

ill-advifed 



ii8 JTSe atttle iFlotoets of 

ill-advifed man, for feeing me thus dying 
of the fall which hath fo fhattered me, you 
yet bid me rife/' And the Angel ap- 
proached him, and touching him, his every 
limb was made whole and he was healed 
perfe6lly. And then he fhowed him a vaft 
plain full of fharp Stones and keen Thorns 
and Brambles ; and he told him that he 
muft needs run through all that plain and 
pafs barefoot unto the end, where he beheld 
a glowing Furnace, into which he muft enter 
ftraight. And the Brother having croffed 
the plain with great anguifh and pain, the 
Angel faid unto him, ** Enter into that Fur- 
nace, for fo it is ordered." The Friar re- 
plied, " Oh, woe is me ! what a cruel guide 
have I ! For you fee me almoft dead from 
that anguifhing plain, and for all repofe 
you bid me enter that glowing furnace." 
And gazing, he beheld many Demons around 
about the Furnace with iron pitchforks in 
their hands, with which, forafmuch as he 
delayed to enter, they plunged him fuddenly 
into the midft of the fire. Having entered 
into the Furnace, gazing, he beheld a cer- 
tain man which had been his Godfather, who 
burned apace with him ; and he queftioned 
him, faying, '' O lucklefs Godfather, how 

came 



cSaint iftancis ot ^uniuu 119 

came you hither ? " And he anfwered, 
*'Go but a little farther in and you fhall 
find my wife your Godmother, who will tell 
you the reafon of our damnation. The 
Brother going on, lo ! there appeared to 
him the aforefaid Godmother all fmothered 
and fhut within a meafure of wheat blazing 
brightly ; and he alked her, " O lucklefs and 
miferable Godmother, how have you come to 
fuch cruel torment?" And fhe anfwered, 
" Forafmuch as in the time of the great 
Famine, the which Saint Francis foretold, 
my hufband and I fold falfe meafure of 
wheat and of barley, and therefore do I burn 
bound within this meafure." And thefe 
words fpoken, the Angel which led the 
Friar haled him out of the Furnace, and 
then faid to him, *' Prepare to take a horrid 
journey, which is yet to make." And he, 
lamenting, faid, " O harfheft of guides, 
who haft no Compaffion ! you fee how I 
am almoft all burned in that Furnace, and 
yet you would lead me on a dangerous 
and horrid journey." And then the Angel 
touched him and made him whole and 
ftrong. Forthwith he led him to a bridge, 
the which could not be. croffed without 
great danger, inafmuch as it was very 

narrow 



I20 m)t acttle jFIotoetis ot 

narrow and ftraight, and moft flippery, and 
without railing at either fide ; and beneath 
it flowed a dreadful river, full of Serpents 
and Dragons and Scorpions, and it fent up 
a moft exceeding great ftench ; and the 
Angel faid to him, " Crofs this Bridge, and 
you muft crofs it from end to end." The 
Friar replied, " And how fhall I crofs over, 
that I may not fall into that perilous flood?'' 
The Angel faid, *^ Follow me, and place 
your foot where you fhall fee me place 
mine, and fo you fliall come fafely over." 
The Brother paffed behind the Angel, as 
he had taught him, until they came to the 
midfl: of the Bridge ; and being thus mid- 
way the Angel flew thence, and departing 
from him went up into an exceeding high 
mountain which flood fome diftance from 
the Bridge ; and the Brother gazed long at 
the fpot whither the Angel had flown : but 
remaining without a guide, and looking 
down, he faw thofe fo dreadful animals 
ftanding with their heads out of the water, 
and with their mouths open ready to de- 
vour him if he fhould fall : and he was in 
fuch a terror that he in no wife knew what 
he fhould do or fay, forafmuch as he could 
neither turn back nor go on. Hence, feeing 

how 



cSafnt iFtancts oC ^uninu 121 

how great was his Tribulation, and that 
he had no other refuge fave only God, he 
bowed his head and clafped the Bridge in 
his arms, and with his whole heart and 
with tears did commit himfelf to the care 
of God, that of His moft Holy Mercy He 
might deign to help him. And having 
prayed, it feemed as if he began to put 
forth wings : at which he with great rejoic- 
ing awaited their further growing, that he 
might fly thence from the Bridge whither 
the Angel had flown before. But after a 
certain fpace, for the great defire which he 
had to crofs that Bridge, he began to fly ; 
and becaufe, forfooth, his wings were not 
grown fo much, he dropped back upon that 
Bridge and his feathers fell from him : upon 
which, yet again he hugged the bridge, and 
as before committed himfelf to the care of 
God ; and having prayed, again he felt his 
wings fprout forth ; but as before he did 
not wait until they had gained their perfe6l 
growth : wherefore, ftriving to fly before 
the time was ripe, he fell once more upon 
the Bridge and his feathers dropped yet 
again. For the which thing, feeing that 
he fell becaufe of his undue hafte to fly, he 
began to reafon with himfelf: " Affuredly, if 

my 



122 s:i)t atttle jFlotoeris of 

my wings fprout for the third time, I will 
wait until they are great enough for me to 
fly without another fall/' And mufing thus, 
he faw his wings put forth for the third 
time : and waiting a goodly fpace, until 
they fliould be very great, it feemed to him 
as if in the firft and the fecond and the 
third fprouting of his wings had paffed 
away five hundred years or more. At laft 
he rofe for the third time, and winged his 
flight with all his force, and flew high up to 
that fame fpot w^hither the Angel had flown, 
and knocking at the door of the Palace 
wherein he was, the door-keeper afked him, 
*' Who art thou, who art come hither ? '* 
He anfwered, " I am a Gray Friar." The 
door-keeper faid, '* Await my coming, for 
I go to fummon Saint Francis, to fee if he 
know thee or no." Going thence for Saint 
Francis, he who was left behind fell to 
confldering the marvellous walls of that 
Palace; and lo, thofe walls were tranflucent, 
and of fuch clearnefs that he did plainly fee 
the choirs of Saints within and all thofe 
things that they did. And ftanding thus 
loft in wonder at this fight, lo ! Saint Fran- 
cis came and Brother Bernard and Brother 
Guy ; and after thefe fo great a multitude 

of 



<Saint ^vantiu of 'Mhuiuu 123 

of faints which had followed in their foot- 
fteps upon earth that they feemed almoft 
numberlefs : and Saint Francis, drawing 
near, faid to the door-keeper, " Let him 
enter in, forafmuch as he is one of my 
Brethren." And no fooner was he entered 
in than he felt fuch Confolation and fuch 
Sweetnefs that he forgot all the Tribula- 
tions which he had undergone, as if they 
had never been. And after Saint Francis, 
leading him by the hand, fhowed him many 
wondrous things, and after faid to him : 
" Son, you muft return to the world, where 
you fhall tarry feven days' fpace, wherein 
you fhall prepare yourfelf diligently with 
great devotion ; forafmuch as after thofe 
feven days I fhall come for you, and then 
Ihall you live with me in this abode of the 
Bleffed/' Saint Francis was clad in a mar- 
vellous cloak, adorned with ghttering Stars ; 
and his five Wounds ^ were like unto five 
moft beauteous Stars, of fuch fplendor that 
the whole Palace fhone with their rays ; 
and Brother Bernard had upon his head a 
crown of moft fair ftars; and Brother Guy 
was decked in wondrous light ; and he 
recognized many other holy Friars in their 

midft 
1 The Stigmata. 



124 S^fie atttle jFloioetj^ of 

midft which he had never feen on earth. 
Thus difmiffed by Saint Francis, he re- 
turned, albeit reluftantly, to the world. 
Awaking and returning to his fenfes 
and reviving, the Brothers were ringing 
the bells for Primes : fo that that Vifion 
had endured no longer than from Matins 
unto Primes, although to him it feemed as 
it had endured for many years. And relat- 
ing all this Vifion to his Superior in its due 
order, within feven days he began to grow 
fevered ; arid the eighth day Saint Francis 
came to fetch him, even as he had prom- 
ifed, with a vaft multitude of glorious Saints, 
and took his foul thence to the Kingdom 
of the Bleffed, unto Eternal Life. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

How Saint Francis converted two Scholars of 
Bologna and made Friars of them ; and then 
rid one of them of a fore Temptation which 
befet him, 

SAINT FRANCIS once coming to the 
city of Bologna, all the people of that 
town ran out to fee him : and fo great was 

the 



<Satnt jFtantis ot ^nniui. 125 

the prefs, that folk had much ado to gain 
the Market-place ; and the Market-place 
being filled full with men and women and 
fcholars, Saint Francis arofe in their midft, 
and {landing upright, did begin to preach 
thofe things which were taught him of the 
Holy Ghoft : and fo wondrous well did he 
preach, that it feemed an Angel preached 
rather than a man ; and his celeftial words 
feemed as they were Iharp arrows, which 
pierced the hearts of all them that heard 
him, for by that preaching a vaft hoft of 
men and of women were converted to true 
repentance ; among the which were two 
noble ftudents from the Marches of An- 
cona ; and the one was called by the name 
of Pilgrim and the other Rinieri ; which 
two after that fame Sermon, touched to the 
foul by divine infpiration, came unto Saint 
Francis faying that they defired to forfake 
the world and all its pomp and become 
one with his Brethren. Then Saint Fran- 
cis, knowing through revelation that they 
were fent by God and that they were def- 
tined to lead a holy life within the Order, 
and confidering their much fervor, received 
them joyfully, faying : "You, Pilgrim, fliall 
follow the path of humility while in the 

Order 



126 srije mttlt jTIotoets of 

Order, and you, Brother Rinieri, fhall 
wait upon the Brethren/* And fo it 
was; forafmuch as Brother Pilgrim would 
never become a Prieft, but remained a Lay 
Brother, although he was moft learned, and 
very wife in canon law. Through this his 
humility he attained to exceeding great per- 
fe6lion of virtue, fo much fo that Brother 
Bernard, the eldeft fon of Saint Francis, 
faid of him that he was one of the moft 
perfeft Friars in this World. And finally 
the faid Brother Pilgrim, full of virtue, 
paffed on from this life to the Bleffed Life, 
working many miracles both before his death 
and after. And the faid Brother Rinieri 
devoutly and faithfully waited upon the 
Friars, living in great fanftity and humility; 
and he became moft familiar with Saint 
Francis, and Saint Francis revealed many 
fecret things to him. Being then made 
Minifter of the Province of the Marches of 
Ancona, he long ruled in the utmoft peace 
and difcretion. After a certain fpace God 
permitted a fore Temptation to affail his 
foul ; at which he, vaftly troubled and 
vexed, affli6led himfelf with Faftings, with 
Difcipline, with Tears and with Prayers, by 
day and by night, and ftill could not drive 

thence 



<Safnt jFtanctis of ^nninu 127 

thence that Temptation ; but ofttimes he 
was in extreme defpair, inafmuch as for 
this thing he held himfelf to be forfaken 
of God. Being thus defperate, as a laft 
remedy he refolved to go to Saint Francis, 
thinking thus : " If Saint Francis look gra- 
cioufly upon me and receive me familiarly, 
as is his wont, I fhall believe that God will 
yet have compaffion upon me ; but if not, 
it fliall be for a fign that my God has for- 
faken me/' He therefore arofe and went 
unto Saint Francis, who at that time abode 
in the Palace of the Bifhop of Affifi griev- 
oufly ill ; and God revealed to him the 
whole manner of the temptation and de- 
fpair of the faid Brother Rinieri, and his 
purpofe and his coming. And ftraight- 
way Saint Francis called Brother Leo and 
Brother Maximus, and faid to them : " Go 
forth to meet my beloved fon Brother 
Rinieri, and embrace him in my name, 
and greet him, and fay to him that of all 
the Brethren throughout the world I love 
him moft Angularly." They fet forth and 
met by the way Brother Rinieri, and em- 
bracing him they told him all thofe things 
which Saint Francis had charged them to 
fay. Hence fo much comfort and delight 

did 



128 sr^e atttle iflotoeri^ ot 

did flow into his foul, that he was almofl 
befide himfelf : and thanking God with his 
whole heart, he went on until he came to 
the place where Saint Francis lay ill. And 
albeit Saint Francis was grievously ill, 
neverthelefs hearing Brother Rinieri's ap- 
proach, he rofe and went out to meet him, 
and embracing him mofl: fweetly, faid : 
*' Brother Rinieri, my beloved fon, of all 
the Brethren throughout the world moll 
Angularly do I love thee." And faying 
thefe words he made the fign of the moft 
Holy Crofs upon his brow, and after kiffed 
him there. And then he faid : ** My be- 
loved fon, God the Lord hath permitted 
this Temptation for your great increafe in 
merit : but if you defire not this increafe, 
it fhall not be thine.'* Wonderful to relate! 
So foon as Saint Francis had uttered thefe 
words, inftantly all Temptation departed 
from him, as if he never in his life had felt 
aught of the kind, and he was left greatly 
comforted. 



Saint jf^vmtiu of ^uuiuu 129 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

O/an Ecjlafy which feized upon Brother Bernard 
a?zd held him from Matins even until Nones, he 
being all that /pace unconfcious of Aught. 

THE great favor which our Lord oft- 
times fhowed to thofe poor Evange- 
lifts who forfook the world for love of 
Chrift is fet forth in Brother Bernard 
of Quintavalle, who, after taking on the 
habit of Saint Francis, was very many 
times abforbed in God, in the contempla- 
tion of celeftial things. Among others, it 
happened upon a time that being in Church 
hearkening to the Mafs, and ftanding with 
his whole mind bent on God, he became 
fo abforbed and rapt in the Lord, that at 
the Elevation of the Hoft he was confcious 
of naught, neither knelt, nor bared his head, 
as did the others ; but without once wink- 
ing, did ftand fteadfaftly gazing from the 
hour of Matins until Nones, as if infen- 
fible: and after Nones, returning to him- 
felf, did go about the Convent crying in 
tones of awe and wonder : " O Brothers ! 
O Brothers ! O Brothers ! There is no 

man 



I30 2Ci)e WLittlt jFlotoeris of 

man in this land fo great, or fo noble, to 
whom, were he promifed a moll beauteous 
palace filled with gold, it were not eafy to 
bear moft loathfome burdens, to gain fo 
rare a treafure." Now the mind of the 
aforefaid Brother Bernard was fo bent upon 
this Celeftial Treafure promifed to all true 
lovers of God, that for fifteen years con- 
tinually he went ever with his head and 
face upraifed to heaven ; and in all that 
time he fatisfied never his hunger at table, 
albeit he ate of that which was put before 
him a little, forafmuch as he faid that the 
mere faft of eating naught conftitutes not 
perfe6l abftinence, but true abftinence is 
to be temperate in all things which are 
favory in the mouth ; and thereby he at- 
tained to fuch clearnefs and light of intel- 
le6l that even the great Do6lors of the 
Church had recourfe to him for the folu- 
tion of knotty queftions and hard paffages 
of Scripture ; and he made plain every 
puzzle to them, and inafmuch as his mind 
was freed and abftra6led from all earthly 
things, he, after the manner of a Swallow, 
flew oft aloft in thought ; hence fometimes 
twenty days and fometimes thirty days he 
would abide alone upon the top of very 

high 



<Satnt jFtancts of ^nninu 131 

high mountains mufing upon celeftial mat- 
ters. Wherefore Brother Guy fpoke con- 
cerning him, faying that this gift was not 
given to other men which was given to 
Brother Bernard of Quintavalle ; which is 
to fay, that he fed upon the wing like the 
Swallow; and for this excellent grace, given 
him of God, Saint Francis gladly and often 
held converfe with him both night and day. 
Hence they were at certain times found 
the whole night long abforbed in God in 
the thick wood, where they had met together 
to difcourfe of Him. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

How the Devil ofttimes did appear in the Form 
of One Crucified unto Brother Rufus, telling him 
that all his Labor was vain, inafmuch as he 
was not chofen unto Eternal Life : Saint Fran- 
cis learning this through Divi?ie Revelatio7i, 
fhowed Brother Rufus the Error in which 
he lay, 

BROTHER RUFUS, one of the moft 
noble men of the city of Affili, and 
a comrade of Saint Francis, a man of 

exceeding 



132 C|)t mttlt JflO\3}tVB Ot 

exceeding fan6lity, was upon a time forely 
tempted and tormented in fpirit concern- 
ing the do6lrine of Predeftination ; where- 
fore he was moft melancholy and fad ; in- 
afmuch as the Devil put it into his heart 
that he was damned and was not one of 
thofe elefted unto Eternal Life, and that 
all the good works which he wrought in 
the Order would avail him naught. And 
this temptation enduring day after day, he 
for fheer fhame forbearing to reveal aught 
of it to Saint Francis, yet paufed not in 
praying and fafling : for which thing the 
Enemy began to heap forrow upon forrow, 
befides the inner battle, fhaking him from 
without with evil vifions. Hence he once 
appeared to him in the form of One Cruci- 
fied, faying unto him : " O Brother Rufus, 
why fhould you thus affli6l yourfelf with 
penitence and prayers, forafmuch as you are 
not one of the Ele6l? And believe me, that 
I know them whom I have chofen and pre- 
deftined ; and put not your faith in the fon 
of Peter Bernardone,"^ albeit he may tell you 
to the contrary, and moreover queftion him 
not concerning fuch matters, fmce neither 
he nor any man elfe can know, fave only I, 

Who 
1 Saint Francis. 



<Sa(nt ;ffvantiu oi ^uuinu 133 

Who am the Son of God : wherefore of a 
verity you may believe me, that you are of 
the number of the damned ; and the fon 
of Peter Bernardone, your father,^ and alfo 
his father, are damned, and whofover fhall 
follow after them is deceived and mifled." 
And hearing thefe words. Brother Rufus 
began to be fo overfhadowed by the Prince 
of Darknefs, that already he loft all faith 
and love which he cherifhed for Saint 
Francis, and cared not to tell him aught 
of thefe things. But that which Brother 
Rufus told not to the Holy Father was 
made* known to him of the Holy Ghoft ; 
hence Saint Francis feeing in fpirit the 
great danger of the faid Brother, fent 
Brother Maximus to fummon him ; to 
whom Brother Rufus made anfwer fcorn- 
fully, " What have I to do with Brother 
Francis ? " And then Brother Maximus, 
filled full with divine wifdom, knowing 
the deceitful wiles of the Devil, faid : " O 
Brother Rufus, know you not that Brother 
Francis is like to an Angel of God, which 
hath enlightened fo many fouls in this 
world, and from which we receive the 

Grace 

^ That is, the founder of the Order to which he 
belonged. 



134 2ri)e %ittlt jFlotoers ot 

Grace of God ? Wherefore I would that 
at all hazards you come before his face 
with me ; forafmuch as I fee clearly that 
you are led aftray of the Devil/' And hav- 
ing faid this, Brother Rufus was moved, 
and went forth to Saint Francis, and Saint 
Francis feeing him from afar began to 
cry aloud, *' O wicked Brother Rufus, in 
whom have you trufted ? '* And Brother 
Rufus drawing near to him, he told him in 
due order all his temptation brought upon 
him by the Devil from within and from 
without, and clearly fhowed him that he 
who had appeared to him was the Devil 
and not Chrift, and that in no manner muft 
he confent to his fuggeftions ; but when the 
Devil fhould again fay to him, " You are 
damned," he fhould make anfwer, " Open 
your mouth ; '* " and this fhall be for a fign 
unto you that he is the Devil and not Chrift : 
for fo foon as you have given him this 
anfwer, ftraightway he fhall flee thence. 
By another token alfo fliall you know that 
he is the Devil, forafmuch as he hath hard- 
ened your heart againft all goodnefs, which 
thing is proper to his office ; but Chrift the 
Bleffed did never .yet make hard the heart 
of the faithful, but rather f of tens it, even 

as 



cSaCnt iFrancts of ^nninu 135 

as is fpoken by the mouth of the Prophet : 
* I will take the ftony heart out of their 
flefh, and will give them a heart of flefh/ '* 
Then Brother Rufus, feeing that Saint 
Francis had related to him in due order 
all the manner of his temptation, ftung 
by his words, began to weep very fore 
and to adore Saint Francis, and humbly 
to acknowledge his fin, in that he had 
hidden his temptation. And thus he was 
left much comforted and confoled by the 
admonitions of the Holy Father, and 
quite changed for the better. Then fi- 
nally Saint Francis faid to him : " Go, fon, 
and confefs your fm, nor give over your 
wonted prayers : and know of a certainty 
that this temptation fhall be of great ufe 
and comfort to you, and in a brief fpace 
you fhall fo prove it." Brother Rufus re- 
turned again to his cell in the foreft ; and 
praying there with many tears, lo ! the 
enemy came again in the femblance of 
Chrift, that is in his outward feeming, and 
faid to him : " O Brother Rufus, did I not 
tell you to put not your faith in the fon of 
Peter Bernardone, and that you fhould not 
weary yourfelf with tears and prayers, fince 
you are damned ? What avails it to affli6l 

yourfelf 



136 J!rf)t 3Littlt JFIoto^rs of 

yourfelf while you live, and then when you 
die, ftill you will be damned ? *' And fud- 
denly Brother Rufus replied to the Devil, 
"Open thy mouth that I may fpit upon 
thee." At which the Devil, waxing wrath, 
flraightway departed thence with fuch a 
tempeft of wind and fo great a rain of 
ftones from Mount Subaffio, which was in 
that neighborhood, that the noife of the 
ftones which fell down was heard for a 
great fpace round about ; and fo great was 
the tumult that they made, together with 
the rumbling, that horrid flames of fire 
fiafhed through the valleys, and at the 
found that they made. Saint Francis with 
his Companions came out from the Con- 
vent in great amaze, to fee what ftrange 
thing this might be ; and even unto this 
day men may fee that exceeding great wafte 
of ftones. Then Brother Rufus faw plainly 
that this was the Devil which had mifled 
him. And returning again to Saint Fran- 
cis, again he fell before him on the ground 
and confeffed his fault. Saint Francis com- 
forted him with fweet words, and fent him 
again confoled to his cell, wherein he, pray- 
ing moft devoutly, Chrift the Bleffed ap- 
peared to him, and fired all his foul with 

Divine 



cSaint jptmtin ot ^Huiuu 137 

Divine Love and faid, *' Well doft thou, fon, 
to put thy faith in Brother Francis, foraf much 
as he who afflifted thee was the Devil ; but 
I am Chrift thy Mafter : and that you may 
be well affured of this, I give you this fign: 
while you live, you fhall never know any 
forrow, neither any grief." And faying 
thefe words, Chrift departed thence, leav- 
ing him with fuch Rejoicing and fuch fweet- 
nefs of fpirit and elevation of mind that 
day and night he was abforbed and rapt in 
God. And from that time forth he was fo 
confirmed in Grace and in the fure fenfe of 
his Salvation, that he was wholly changed 
to another man ; and he would fain have 
remained day and night in prayer and in 
contemplation of Divine Things, would oth- 
ers have but let him. Hence Saint Fran- 
cis faid concerning him, that Brother Rufus 
was canonized of Chrift in this life, and that 
fave in his prefence he hefitated not to call 
him Saint Rufus, albeit he yet lived upon 
this earth. 



138 SCfjc iLittlt Momvu Of 



CHAPTER XXX. 

0/ the glorious Sermon which Saint Francis 
and Brother Rufus preached at AJpJi, 

THE faid Brother Rufus, through con- 
tinual contemplation, grew to be fo 
abforbed in God that he became almoft 
dumb and infenfible, and but very rarely 
fpoke ; and withal he had not the Grace, 
nor the Valor, nor the Eloquence to preach : 
and neverthelefs Saint Francis charged him 
upon a time that he fhould go to Affifi, and 
fhould preach to the people even as the 
Lord Ihould infpire him. To which Brother 
Rufus made anfwer : " Reverend Father, 
I befeech you, pardon me and fend me 
not forth, inafmuch as you are well aware 
that I have no grace in preaching, and 
am fimple and unlearned/' And then faid 
Saint Francis: "Forafmuch as you have 
not obeyed promptly, I command you by 
your facred vow of Obedience that you 
go, clad only in your breeches, unto Affifi, 
and enter there a church and preach to 
the people." Upon this command the faid 
Brother Rufus laid off his raiment and 

went 



Saint iFranctKi of ^uninu 139 

went to Affifi and entered into a church, 
and doing reverence to the altar, went up 
into the pulpit and began to preach ; at 
which thing the men and boys began to 
laugh, and faid, " Lo, one who doth peni- 
tence, left he grow proud and vain/' 
Meantime Saint Francis, pondering on the 
ready obedience of Brother Rufus, which 
was one of the nobleft gentlemen of Affifi, 
and of the hard command which he had 
laid upon him, began to reproach himfelf, 
faying, ** Whence haft thou fuch prefump- 
tion, fon of Peter Bernardone, thou vile 
and petty fellow, that thou fliouldft com- 
mand Brother Rufus, which is one of the 
nobleft gentlemen of Affifi, to go forth 
and preach to the people even as he were 
mad ? In God's name, go forth thou like- 
wife, and prove for thyfelf even that thou 
hafl commanded of others." And fuddenly, 
in the ardor of his fpirit, he alfo laid off 
his raiment and went forth to Affifi, and 
with him went Brother Leo bearing his 
habit and that of Brother Rufus. And the 
men of Affifi feeing them in like plight, 
fcoffed at them, holding that they with 
Brother Rufus were made mad by much 
Penitence. Saint Francis entered into the 

church 



I40 ^Tfie mttlt jFlototrs of 

church where Brother Rufus was preach- 
ing thefe words : " Fly, my beloved, from 
the World, and forfake Sin ; covet not the 
goods of others, if you would efcape Hell ; 
follow God's commands, love God and your 
neighbor, if you would gain Heaven ; do 
penitence, if you would poffefs the King- 
dom of Heaven." Then Saint Francis went 
up into the pulpit; and he began to preach 
fo marvelloufly of the Vanity of the world, 
of holy Penitence, of voluntary Poverty, 
and of the longing after the Celeftial King- 
dom, and of the nakednefs and fcorn of the 
Paffion of our Lord Jefus Chrift, that all 
they who heard his preaching, men and 
women in great multitudes, began to weep 
violently with admirable devotion and con- 
trition ; and not only here, but throughout 
all Affifi, upon that day fuch floods of tears 
were fhed for Chrift's Paffion, that nothing 
fimilar was ever feen. And the people 
being thus edified and confoled by the aft 
of Saint Francis and Brother Rufus, Saint 
Francis clad again both Brother Rufus and 
himfelf ; and thus reclad they returned back 
to the Convent of Portiuncula, praifing and 
glorifying God, Who had given them grace 
to win the vidlory over felf by their felf- 

contempt, 



<Saint jFtanciis of ^uniuu 141 

contempt, and to edify the flock of Chrift 
Jefus by their good Example, and to fhow 
what it is to defpife the World ; and that 
day fo great was the devotion which the 
people felt for them, that he held himfelf 
bleffed who could but touch the hem of 
their garments. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

Ifow Saint Francis duly knew the fecret Souls 
of all his Brethren. 

EVEN as our Lord Jefus Chrift faith in 
the Gospel, " I know my fheep and 
they know me," etc., fo the bleffed Father 
Saint Francis, like unto a good fhepherd, 
knew all the merits and virtues of his Com- 
panions by divine revelations, and even fo 
was made aware of their defe6ls ; for the 
which thing he knew how to provide for each 
the beft remedy, which is to fay, he hum- 
bled the Proud, exalted the Lowly, inveighed 
againft Vice, and lauded Virtue, according 
as may be read in the wondrous revela- 
tions which he had concerning his firfl 
family. Among the fame we learn that 

Saint 



142 ^Tfie acttle jFlototri^ ot 

Saint Francis once being with the faid 
family in a certain place difcourfing of 
God, Brother Rufus was not among them 
to hearken unto this difcourfe, but was loft 
in a mufe in the midft of the wood ; pro- 
ceeding with their difcourfe of God, lo ! 
Brother Rufus came forth from the wood 
and paffed by fomewhat remote from them. 
Then Saint Francis, feeing him, turned 
again to his Companions and afked them, 
faying : " Tell me, whofe think you is the 
holieft foul which God hath fent into the 
world ? " And they made anfwer, faying 
that they believed it to be his own. And 
Saint Francis faid to them : ** Beloved 
Brethren, I know myfelf to be the moft 
unworthy and the vileft man whom God 
hath fent into this world ; but fee ye not 
that fame Brother Rufus, who even now 
came forth from the wood ? God hath re- 
vealed to me that his foul is one of the 
three moft holy fouls in the world : and 
verily I fay unto you that I fhould not 
hefitate to call him Saint Rufus while he 
yet lives, forafmuch as his foul is confirmed 
in grace and fanftified and canonized in 
Heaven of our Lord Jefus Chrift." And 
thefe words Saint Francis uttered not be- 
fore 



cSatnt ffvantin of ^uniuu 143 

fore the face of the faid Brother Rufus. 
How Saint Francis likewife knew the 
faults of his Brethren may be clearly feen 
in Brother Elias, whom ofttimes he re- 
proved for his pride ; and in Brother John 
of the Choir, to whom he did prophefy that 
he Ihould go out and hang himfelf by the 
neck ; and in that Friar whom the Devil 
held faft by the throat when he was cor- 
re6led for his difobedience ; and in many 
other Friars, whofe fecret faults and virtues 
he knew clearly through a revelation from 
Chrift. 



XXXII. 

How Brother Maximus entreated of Chrijl the 
Virtue of Meeknefs. 

THE firfl; Companions of Saint Francis 
ftrove with all their ftrength to be 
poor in worldly goods and rich in virtues, 
by which they might gain true riches, 
celeftial and eternal. It happened one 
day, that they being met together to talk 
of God, one of them related this parable : 
" There was a certain man who was a dear 
friend of God, and had great gifts alike for 

a 



144 ^Sf 2-ittle jFlotorrs of 

a life of aflion and of contemplation, and 
withal had fuch exceeding meeknefs, that 
he held himfelf as the greateft of finners : 
which meeknefs fan6tified and ftrengthened 
him in grace, and made him grow continu- 
ally in virtue and in the favor of God, and 
never let him fall into any manner of fm." 
Brother Maximus hearing fuch marvellous 
things concerning meeknefs, and knowing 
that it was a treafure of eternal life, began 
to be fo inflamed with love and longing 
for this virtue of meeknefs, that, raifmg his 
eyes with great fervor to Heaven, he made 
a vow and moft certain promife never more 
to be merry in this world until he Ihould 
feel the faid virtue abiding perfeftly within 
him ; and from that time forth he would 
pafs almoft the entire day fhut up within 
his cell, mortifying himfelf with fafts, vig- 
ils, prayers, and extreme lamentations and 
tears before God, to the end that he might 
wring from Him this virtue, wanting which 
he held himfelf worthy of Hell, and with 
which that friend of God, as he had heard, 
was fo plentifully endowed. And Brother 
Maximus, cherifhing thus this delire for 
many days, it came to pafs that he one day 
entered into a wood, and in the fervor of his 

fpirit 



cSatnt jFrancts of ^uniuu 145 

fpirit wandered on, weeping, fighing, groan- 
ing, and befeeching with ardent longing 
that God would grant him that divine vir- 
tue : and forafmuch as the Lord gladly 
hears the prayers of the contrite and the 
lowly, Brother Maximus being thus forlorn, 
a Voice came down from Heaven, and the 
fame called him twice: '' Brother Maximus, 
Brother Maximus ! '* And he, having fpirit- 
ual knowledge that this was the Voice of 
Chrift, replied : '' My Lord ! " And Chrift 
faid to him : " What will you give to have 
this Grace that you afk ? " Brother Maxi- 
mus replied : " Lord, I will give the eyes 
out of my head.'' And Chrift faid to him : 
"And I defire that you have the Grace, 
and likewife the eyes/' And faying this, 
the Voice vanifhed ; and Brother Maximus 
was left behind filled with fo much grace 
of the defired virtue of meeknefs and of the 
Light of God, that from that time forth he 
went ever rejoicing ; and ofttimes when he 
prayed, did rejoice aloud, making a dull noife 
like that of a dove, — oo, oo, oo, — and with 
a fhining countenance and a light heart he 
would linger thus loft in contemplation ; 
and withal, being become very meek, he 
held himfelf to be lefs than all other men. 

Being 
10 



146 2ri)e Utttlt iFlotoers of 

Being afked by Brother James, of Falle- 
rone, why in his rejoicing he changed not 
ever his tune, he replied with great cheer, 
That when one thing containeth all good, 
it boots not to change the meafure or the 
tune. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

How Saint Clara, at the Command of the Pope^ 
blejjed the Bread which was on the Table: 
whereat on every Loaf wasfeen thefgn of the 
Holy Crofs. 

SAINT CLARA, that moll devout fol- 
lower of the Crofs of Chrift, and the 
noble offspring of Saint Francis, was of 
fuch fanftity that not alone Bifhops and 
Cardinals but even the Pope himfelf longed 
with great affeftion to fee and to hear 
her, and many times vifited her in perfon. 
Among other times, the Holy Father once 
went to Moniftero to hear her converfe of 
celeftial and divine things ; and being thus 
met together, reafoning of divers matters, 
Saint Clara meantime bade them make 
ready the tables, and place upon them 

bread. 



cSaCnt iFpancts oi ^Buiuu 147 

bread, to the end that the Holy Father 
might blefs it; whence, her fpiritual dif- 
courfe completed, Saint Clara, kneeling 
with exceeding great reverence, prayed him 
that it might pleafe him to blefs the bread 
upon the table. The Holy Father replied : 
" Sifter Clara, moft faithful among women, 
I defire that you do blefs thefe loaves, 
making above them the fign of Chrift*s 
Holy Crofs, to which you have given 
yourfelf entirely, body and foul." Saint 
Clara faid : "Pardon me, Moft Holy Father, 
for I fhould be worthy of great reproach 
if before the face of Chrift's Vicar on 
earth, I, who am but a vile and filly 
woman, fhould venture to give fuch bleff- 
ing." And the Pope made anfwer : *' To 
the end that it be not reputed prefump- 
tion, but merely righteous fubmiffion, I 
charge you, by your facred vow of Obedi- 
ence, to make the fign of the moft Holy 
Crofs above thefe loaves, bleffmg theni^ in 
the name of God." Then Saint Clara, like 
a true daughter of Obedience, did devoutly 
blefs the bread with the fign of the moft 
Holy Crofs. Wonderful to relate ! Sud- 
denly upon all thofe loaves appeared the 
fign of the Crofs moft beauteoufly carven. 

Then 



148 ^i)t %ittlt iTlotoetis of 

Then of thofe loaves a part were eaten, and 
a part preferved in token of the miracle. 
And the Holy Father, after that he had 
feen that miracle, partaking of the faid 
bread and giving thanks to God, departed 
thence, leaving Saint Clara with his bleff- 
ing. In thofe days Sifter Ortolana, the 
mother of Saint Clara, abode in the Con- 
vent, and Sifter Agnes, her fif ter, both of 
them together with Saint Clara, full of vir- 
tue and of the Holy Ghoft, and with many 
other Nuns*; unto whom Saint Francis fent 
many that were fick and infirm ; and they 
by their prayers and by the fign of the 
moft Holy Crofs healed them all every 
one. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

How Saint Louis, King of France^ we?it in Per/on, 
in the Guife of a Pilgrim, to Perugia, to vifit 
Holy Brother Guy. 

SAINT LOUIS, King of France, once 
went on a pilgrimage to fee the holy 
places of the world : and hearing the ex- 
ceeding great fame of the fan6lity of Brother 
Guy, who was one of the firft followers of 

Saint 



<Saint J^vmtiu ot ^Huiuu 149 

Saint Francis, he felt a hearty defire, and 
at length determined to vifit him in perfon ; 
for the which purpofe he came to Perugia, 
where the faid Brother Guy was then abid- 
ing. And drawing nigh to the gate of the 
Monaftery, in the guife of a poor and un- 
known pilgrim, with but a few Com- 
panions, he moft perfiftently demanded 
Brother Guy, faying to the gate-keeper 
naught of who he was that alked for him. 
The gate-keeper then went to Brother 
Guy and told him that a pilgrim flood 
without the gate and afked for him: and 
God revealed and made known to him that 
this was the King of France : at which 
fuddenly he with great fervor left his cell 
and ran forth to the gate ; and without fur- 
ther queftioning, and before even they had 
fet eyes each upon the other, kneeling 
with extreme devotion, they embraced and 
kiffed with much familiarity, as they had 
long been bound by the bonds of friend- 
fhip : but withal they fpoke no word, neither 
the one nor the other ; but flood thus em- 
braced in filence with thefe tokens of affec- 
tionate amity. And having remained thus 
for a fpace without fpeaking a word to- 
gether, they parted one from the other; 

and 



I50 STiie %ittlt jFlotoeris of 

and Saint Louis departed thence on his 
journey, and Brother Guy returned again 
to his cell. The King being departed, a 
Friar afked a certain one among his Breth- 
ren who that man might be who had fo 
ardently embraced Brother Guy ; and he 
made anfwer that it was Louis, King of 
France, who had come thither to fee 
Brother Guy. The fame being repeated 
to the other Monks, they were fore afflifted 
that Brother Guy had fpoken no word with 
him ; and reproving him, they faid : '* O 
Brother Guy, wherefore were you fo churl- 
ifh, as when fo holy a King came hither 
from France to fee you and to hear wife 
words from your lips, you fpake not unto 
him ? " Brother Guy made anfwer : *' My 
beloved Brothers, marvel not hereat: foraf- 
much as neither I could fpeak a word to him 
nor he to me ; inafmuch as fo foon as we 
were embraced, the light of Divine Wifdom 
revealed and laid bare his heart to me and 
mine to him ; and thus by Divine Authority 
gazing each into the other's heart, we knew 
far better thofe things which he might 
have fpoken to me and I to him, than had 
we fpoken them with our lips, and with 
greater comfort than had we ftriven to fet 

forth 



<Satnt ^tmtiu of ^uuiuu 151 

forth with our voices thofe things which 
we felt in our hearts ; whereas the human 
tongue being but faulty and ill-fitted to ex- 
prefs clearly the fecret myfteries of God, it 
would have rather added to our difcom- 
fiture than our confolation ; wherefore 
know that the King, departed hence from 
me wondrous well content and comforted 
in fpirit." 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

HoWy being infirniy Saint Clara was home by a 
Miracle unto the Church of St. Francis^ upon 
Chrijlmas Nighty and heard Mafs therein. 

SAINT CLARA being once infirm of 
body, fo that fhe could in no manner 
go forth to fay Mafs in Church with the 
other Nuns, when the folemn feaft of the 
Nativity of Chrift was at hand all the others 
went to Matins ; and fhe remained behind 
in bed ill content that fhe could not go forth 
with the reft to receive that fpiritual comfort. 
But Jefus Chrift, her heavenly Spoufe, loath 
to leave her fo ill content, had her borne 
by miraculous power unto the Church of 
St. Francis, and thus was fhe prefent at 

the 



152 STfjt autle jFloUjers of 

the office of Matins and at the Midnight 
Mafs ; moreover, did receive Holy Com- 
munion, and was then tranfported again 
to her bed. The Nuns returning back to 
Saint Clara, fervice being ended at St. 
Damian's, faid to her : " Oh, our Mother, 
Sifter Clara, what exceeding confofation 
has been ours at this facred feaft of the 
Nativity ! Would it had pleafed God that 
you might have been among us ! *' And 
Saint Clara replied : *' Thankfgiving and 
praife give I unto Our Lord Chrift Jefus ; 
may His name be bleffed, my beloved Sifters 
and Daughters, forafmuch as I have wit- 
neffed every folemn rite of this moft holy 
night, and even greater things than you 
have feen, to the great confolation of my 
foul : forafmuch as through the interceffion 
of my Father Saint Francis, and by the 
Grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift, I was pref- 
ent in the Church of my venerable Father 
Saint Francis, and heard all the Office with 
my bodily as well as my fpiritual ears, and 
the found of the organ as it was played ; 
and there too I did partake of the moft 
Holy Communion. Wherefore for all thefe 
mercies vouchfafed to me, rejoice greatly 
and thank our Lord Jefus Chrift. 



Satnt jFtanttis of ^nuiuu 153 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 

I/bw Saint Francis fet forth to Brother Leo a 
fair Vifon which he faw, 

UPON a time Saint Francis was fore 
infirm, and Brother Leo ferved him ; 
the faid Brother Leo, being at prayer be- 
fide Saint Francis, was rapt in Ecftafy, and 
borne in fpirit to an exceeding great ftream, 
broad and brawling. And ftanding there 
to note who fhould pafs over, he faw cer- 
tain heavily-laden Friars enter the Flood, 
the which were ftraightway beaten down 
by the rufhing waters and were drowned ; 
certain others came a third of the way 
over ; others reached the middle of the 
Flood ; certain others came almoft over to 
the other fhore ; who all, from the violence 
of the Flood, and from the burdens which 
they bare upon their backs, fell at laft and 
perifhed miferably. Seeing this, Brother 
Leo was much moved to pity : and fud- 
denly ftanding thus, behold there came a 
great multitude of Monks, without burden 
or weight or any other thing, whofe counte- 
nances fhone with the light of Holy Pov- 
erty; 



154 ®^!)^ SLtttle jFIotoers ot 

erty ; and they entered upon the waters, 
and paffed over without any danger ; and 
feeing this, Brother Leo returned to him- 
felf. And then Saint Francis, feehng in 
fpirit that Brother Leo had feen fome 
Vifion, called him unto his bedfide and 
alked him concerning thofe things which 
he had feen. And Brother Leo relating 
duly all his Vifion, Saint Francis faid: 
" That which you have feen is true. The 
great river is this world ; the Brethren 
which were drowned in the Flood are they 
who forfake the calling of the Evange- 
lifts, and above all elfe attain not unto the 
moft extreme poverty ; but they who paffed 
over unharmed are thofe Monks who feek 
after naught earthly or carnal, neither pof- 
fefs aught of this world's goods, but having 
naught fave a modicum of food and rai- 
ment, therewith are well content, following 
Chrift naked on the Crofs; and they do 
bear cheerfully and willingly the burden 
and the fweet yoke of Chrift and of their 
facred vow of Obedience ; and hence they 
pafs eafily from temporal unto Eternal 
Life. 



cSaint jftmtiu of muiuu 155 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 

JIbw yefus Chrift the Blejfed, at the Requejl 
of Saint Francis, did convert a rich afid noble 
K7iight, and make him a Monk^ the Same hav- 
ing made great Proffers and paid much Honor 
unto Saint Francis. 

SAINT FRANCIS, the fervant of Chrift, 
coming late one night unto the houfe 
of a great and powerful lord, was received 
and entertained of him, he and his Com- 
panion, even as they had been Angels of 
God, with exceeding courtefy and devo- 
tion : for the which thing Saint Fran- 
cis held him in much efteem, confidering 
that upon his entering into the houfe he 
had embraced and kiffed him with ex- 
treme amity, and thereafter had wafhed 
his feet and dried them and kiffed them 
humbly, and had made a great fire, and lay- 
ing the table with many rich meats, con- 
tinually did ferve on him with Ihining face 
while he ate thereof. Now Saint Francis 
having eaten, together with his Companion, 
this gentleman faid : '' Lo, my Father, I 
and all my worldly goods are thine : whenfo- 

ever 



156 JHTiit SLtttle iFIotoeris of 

ever thou doft want raiment or mantle or 
whatfoever thing, buy, and I will pay the 
price ; and behold, I am ready to provide 
for thine every want, forafmuch as by the 
Grace of God I have wherewithal fo to 
do, inafmuch as I abound in all temporal 
goods; and hence for love of God Who 
gave them, I cheerfully do good unto His 
poor." Upon which Saint Francis, feeing 
him poffeffed of fuch courtefy and bland- 
nefs, and the bounty which he proffered, 
conceived fuch afFeftion for him that, de- 
parting thence, he faid to his Comrade as 
he went: "Verily this gentleman would 
well befeem our Religion and Company, 
being fo grateful and fo pleafmg unto God, 
and fo loving and courteous towards his 
fellow-men and to the poor. Know, be- 
loved Brother, that Courtefy is one of the 
effential qualities of God, Who maketh His 
fun to fliine and His rain to fall upon the 
juft and upon the unjuft, through Courtefy: 
and Courtefy is alfo the fifter of Charity, 
which puts out Hatred and preferves Love 
alive. Becaufe I have known fo much 
divine virtue in this good man, I would 
gladly take him for my Companion : and 
hence I defire that we may one day return 

again 



Saint jFtanct«3 of ^uninu 157 

again unto him, if haply God may touch 
his heart and move him to go along with 
us to enter upon the fervice of God ; and 
meantime we will pray God that He may 
breathe this defire into his heart, and give 
him grace to execute it.'* Wonderful to 
relate ! A few days thence, Saint Francis 
having prayed, our Lord breathed this de- 
fire into the heart of that gentleman. And 
Saint Francis fpake to his Companion, fay- 
ing : '' Let us go forth, my Brother, to the 
abode of that courteous man ; forafmuch 
as I have firm faith in God, that he in the 
Courtefy of temporal things fhall give him- 
felf to us and become our Companion/' 
And they went forth ; and drawing nigh 
to his houfe, Saint Francis fpake to his 
Companion, faying : '^ Await me here a 
little, forafmuch as I am fain firft to pray 
to God that it may pleafe Him to profper 
our journey ; that it may pleafe Chrift 
Jefus to grant unto us poor weak men the 
noble prey which we hope to capture from 
the world through the virtue of His moft 
Holy Paffion." And faying this, he began to 
pray at a place whence he might be feen of 
the faid courteous man ; hence, as it pleafed 
God, that fame, gazing hither and yon, 

foon 



158 srije mttlt iFIotoeri^ ot 

foon saw Saint Francis loft in moft devout 
prayer before Chrift, Who with great fplen- 
dor appeared to him in the faid prayer and 
ftood before his face ; and as he abode 
there thus, he faw Saint Francis for a good 
fpace lifted up bodily from the earth. For 
the which thing he was fo moved of God 
and infpired to forfake the world, that pref- 
ently he went forth from his palace, and 
in the fervor of his fpirit haftened towards 
Saint Francis ; and drawing nigh unto him 
as he prayed, he knelt before his feet, and 
with exceeding great urgency and devotion 
he befought that it might pleafe him to re- 
ceive him and to let him do penitence with 
him. Then Saint Francis, feeing that his 
prayers had been heard of God, and that 
the felfsame thing which he defired, this 
gentleman befought with fuch urgency, he 
raifed him up, and fervently and joyoufly 
embraced and kiffed him, moft devoutly 
thanking God, Which had added fo noble a 
knight to his Company. And that gentle- 
man faid to Saint Francis : " What com- 
mandeft thou me to do, my Father ? Lo, 
I am ready for thy command, and to give to 
the poor all that that I have, and to follow 
after Chrift with thee, thus fet free of all 

temporal 



Saint jFtanctJs of ^uuiuu 159 

temporal burden." And even fo he did, ac- 
cording unto the counfel of Saint Francis ; 
for he fhared his goods among the poor, 
and entered into the Order, and Hved in 
great penitence and fanftity of Hfe, and in 
honeft converfation with his Brethren. 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

How Saint Francis had fpiritiial Knowledge that 
Brother Elias was damned^ and was dejlined 
to die outjide of the Order ; wherefore at 
Brother Elias' Entreaty He prayed to God in 
his Behalf and was heard, 

SAINT FRANCIS and Brother Elias 
once abiding together in the felfsame 
Convent, Saint Francis had a revelation 
from God that Brother Elias was damned, 
and was deftined to renounce his faith and 
finally to die outfide of the Order. For 
the which thing Saint Francis conceived 
fuch difpleafure againft him, that for a 
fpace he fpake not to him, neither held he 
any converfe with him ; and if at any time 
it happened that Brother Elias came forth 
to meet him, he would turn afide and take 

another 



i6o STfje mttu M^mvu of 

another road, that he might not meet with 
him ; at which Brother Elias began to note 
and to underftand that Saint Francis was 
much difpleafed with him ; hence, defiring 
to know the caufe, he one day accofted 
Saint Francis to fpeak with him ; and Saint 
Francis fhunning Brother Elias, he retained 
him courteoufly perforce, and began to en- 
treat him difcreetly that it would pleafe 
him to fignify to him the caufe for which 
he thus fhunned his company and all con- 
verfe with h'im. And Saint Francis made 
anfwer : " The caufe is namely this : foraf- 
much as it has been revealed to me of 
God that you for your fins fhall renounce 
your faith and fliall die outfide of the Order, 
and alfo God hath revealed to me that 
you are accurfed and damned." Hearing 
this, Brother Elias fpake thus : *' Reverend 
Father, I befeech you for the love of Jefus 
Chrift that you fhun me not for this, neither 
drive me from you ; but like unto a good 
Shepherd, following after the example of i 
Chrift, recover and receive again the fheep 
which muft perifh if you aid him not; and 
pray unto God for me that, if it may be, 
He revoke the fentence of my damnation ; 
forafmuch as it is written that God will 

change 



Saiut jFrancis ot ^nninu i6i 

change His decree if the finner turn from 
his fin : and fo great is my faith in your 
prayers, that were I in the midmoft part of 
Hell and you fent up a prayer to God for 
me, I fhould feel a certain eafe ; therefore 
I pray you yet again to recommend me, a 
finner, unto God, Which came into the world 
to fave finners, that He will grant me His 
Mercy." And this Brother Elias faid with 
great devotion, ay, even with tears ; upon 
which Saint Francis, like a pious Father, 
promifed to pray to God for him ; and fo he 
did. And praying to God very fervently for 
him, he knew by revelation that his prayer 
was heard of God, in fo far as concerned the 
revocation of the fentence of Brother Elias* 
damnation, for finally his foul fliould not be 
damned ; but affuredly he would forfake 
the Faith and die outfide the Order. And 
even fo it happened ; forafmuch as Fred- 
eric, King of Sicily, rebelling againft the 
Church, and being excommunicated by the 
Pope, he and whofoever fhould give him aid 
or counfel, the faid Brother Elias, who was 
held to be one of the moft wife men in the 
world, being fummoned by that fame King 
Frederic, joined himfelf unto him, and be- 
came a rebel to the Church and an apof- 

tate 
II 



1 62 lti)t %ittlt Mo^ttn of 

tate from the Order : for the which thing 
he was excommunicated of the Pope, and 
ftripped of his habit by Saint Francis. 
And being thus excommunicate, and fall- 
ing very ill, a certain lay Brother among 
his Brethren, which had remained in the 
Order and was a man of good and honeft 
life, hearing of his fore infirmity, went to 
vifit him ; and among other matter faid to 
him : " My beloved Brother, it grieves me 
much that you fhould be excommunicate 
and driven out from your Order, and that 
even fo you muft die ; but if you can per- 
ceive any mode or manner by which I may 
refcue you out of your peril, I will cheer- 
fully endure any fuffering for your fake/' 
Brother Elias made anfwer : " My Brother, 
I fee no other manner than that you fhould 
betake yourfelf to the Pope, and entreat 
him that for the love of God, and of Saint 
Francis his fervant, through whofe admo- 
nitions I was led to forfake the world, he 
abfolve me from his excommunication and 
reftore to me the habit of my Order." 
Thus he fpake to his Brother, who cheer- 
fully undertook any labor fo that he might 
but be faved : and departing thence from 
him, he threw himfelf at the feet of the 

Holy 



cSatnt ^tamin of ^nninu 163 

Holy Father, humbly befeeching him that 
he would {how mercy to his Brother, for 
love of Chrift and of Saint Francis his fer- 
vant. And as it pleafed God, the Pope 
granted him his leave to return again, and 
if he found Brother Elias flill alive, abfolve 
him in his name from excommunication, 
and reftore to him his habit ; upon which 
he fet forth rejoicing, and with great fpeed 
came again to Brother Elias, and found 
him alive, albeit at the point of death, and 
fet him free from the ban of the Church ; 
and putting on him again his habit, Brother 
Elias paffed away from this life, and his 
foul was faved through the merits of Saint 
Francis and by his prayers, in which Brother 
Elias had put fuch great faith. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 

0/ the Marvellous Sermo7t which was preached 
m the Confcjlory by Saint A?itony of Padua, 
a Gray Friar, 

THAT marvellous veffel of the Holy 
Ghoft, Saint Antony of Padua, one 
of the chofen Difciples and Companions 

of 



1 64 STfie nettle jFIoi^ers Df 

of Saint Francis, who was called of Saint 
Francis his Vicar, once preached in the 
Confiftory before the Pope and his Cardi- 
nals ; in which Confiftory there were men 
of divers nations ; namely, Greeks, Latins, 
French, Germans, Slavs, and Englifh, and 
men fpeaking other divers tongues. Fired 
by the Holy Ghoft, fo efficacioufly, fo de- 
voutly, fo fubtly, fo fvveetly, fo clearly, and 
fo plainly did he fet forth the Word of God, 
that all they which were prefent at the Con- 
fiftory, of whatfoever divers tongues they 
were, clearly underftood all his words dif- 
tin6tly,even as he had fpoken in the language 
of each man among them ; and they all were 
ftruck dumb with amaze, and it feemed as 
that ancient miracle of the Apoftles had 
been renewed, when as at the time of the 
Pentecoft they fpake by virtue of the Holy 
Ghoft in every tongue ; and they faid one 
to another with admiration and awe: **Is 
not he who preaches come out from Spain? 
and how do we hear in his difcourfe every 
man of us the fpeech of his own land ? " 
Likewife the Pope, confidering and marvel- 
ling at the profundity of his words, faid : 
" Verily this man is the Ark of the Cove- 
nant and the Vehicle of the Holy Gofpel." 



cSatnt j^vantiu of ^uuiuL 165 



CHAPTER XL. 

0/ the Miracle which God performed when 
Saint Antony, being at Rimini, preached to 
the FiJJies of the Sea. 

OUR Bleffed Lord and Saviour Jefus 
Chrift, defiring to fet forth the great 
fan6lity of His moft faithful fervant Saint 
Antony, how devout a thing it was to hear 
his preaching and his Holy Do6lrines, He 
reproved the folly of heretics and infidels 
through unreafoning beafts, notably the 
fifhes, as of old in the Bible He chid the 
ignorance of Balaam through the mouth 
of the Afs. Hence, Saint Antony being 
at Rimini, where there was a great mul- 
titude of heretics, defiring to bring them 
back to the light of the true faith and 
to the ways of virtue, for many days did 
preach and fet forth to them the faith of 
Chrift and of the Holy Scriptures : but 
they, not only confenting not to his Holy 
Words, but even like hardened and obfti- 
nate fmners refufing to hearken unto him, 
Saint Antony one day by Divine Infpira- 
tion went forth to the banks of the river, 

clofe 



1 66 STiie ILittlr iFlotoeri^ of 

clofe befide the fea ; and Handing thus 
upon the ihore betwixt fea and ftream, he 
began to fpeak in the guife of a fermon in 
the Name of God unto the fifhes : '' Hear 
the Word of God, ye fiflies of the fea and of 
the ftream, fince heretics and infidels are 
loath to liften to it ; " and having uttered 
thefe words, fuddenly there came towards 
him fo great a multitude of fifhes, great, 
fmall, and middle-fized, as had never been 
feen in that fea, or in that ftream, or of 
the people round about ; and all held their 
heads up out of the water, and all turned 
attentively towards the face of Saint An- 
tony, and the greateft peace and meeknefs 
and order prevailed : infomuch that next 
the fhore ftood the leffer fifh, and after 
them came the middle fifh, and ftill after 
them, where the water was deepeft, ftood 
the larger fifh. The fifh being thus ranged 
in order, Saint Antony began folemnly to 
preach, fpeaking thus : " My Brothers the 
fifh, you are greatly bounden, fo far as in 
you lies, to thank your Creator that He 
hath given you fo noble an element for 
your habitation ; fo that at your pleafure 
you have frefh waters and fait ; and He 
hath given you many fhelters againft florm. 

He 



<Sa(nt jFrancii?! of ^uuiuu 167 

He hath alfo given you a clear and lucid 
element, and food, by which you may live. 
God, your courteous and benign Creator, 
when He created you, commanded you to 
grow and multiply, and He gave you His 
bleffmg : then when the great Flood fwal- 
lowed up the World, and all the other ani- 
mals were deftroyed, God preferved you 
only without injury or harm. Almoft hath 
He given you wings, that you may roam 
whitherfoever it pleafes you. To you was 
it granted, by God's command, to preferve 
the prophet Jonah, and after the third day 
to caft him up upon the land fafe and 
found. You offered tribute to our Lord 
Jefus Chrift, which He, poor and lowly, 
had not wherewithal to pay. You were 
the food of the everlafting King Chrift 
Jefus, before the refurre6lion and again 
after it, by a ftrange myftery ; for the 
which things greatly are you bounden to 
praife and blefs God, Which hath given you 
fuch great and fo many benefits, more than 
to any other creatures." Upon thefe and 
other fimilar words and teachings of Saint 
Antony the fifhes began to ope their 
mouths, and to bow their heads ; and by 
thefe and other figns of reverence, accord- 
ing 



1 68 ^fjt mttlt ^imtvn ot 

ing as it was poffible to them, they praifed 
God. Then Saint Antony, feeing fuch 
reverence in the fifties towards God their 
Creator, rejoicing in fpirit, cried aloud and 
faid : " Blefted be the eternal God, fince 
fifties of the waters honor Him far more 
than heretic men, and the unreafoning 
beafts more readily hearken to His Word 
than faithlefs men." And as Saint An- 
tony continued his preaching, the multi- 
tude of fifties was increafed yet more, and 
none departed from the place which he 
had filled. Upon this miracle the people 
of the town began to haften forth, and 
among them were alfo the aforefaid here- 
tics ; the which, feeing fo m.anifeft and mar- 
vellous a miracle, felt their hearts forely 
pricked, and fell with one accord at Saint 
Antony's feet, to hear his word. Then 
Saint Antony began to preach of the 
Catholic faith ; and fo nobly did he dif- 
courfe, that he converted all thofe heretics 
and turned them to the true faith of Chrift ; 
and all the faithful were comforted with 
great joy, and were confirmed in their faith. 
And this done. Saint Antony difmiffed the 
fifties with the bleffing of God ; and they 
all departed with marvellous figns of re- 
joicing, 



Saint jFcaiuti^ of ^miuU 169 

joicing and likewife the people. And then 
Saint Antony flayed in Rimini for many 
days, preaching, and reaping a fpiritual 
harveft of fouls. 



CHAPTER XLI. 

ZTow the Veiier able Brother Siinon freed from fore 
Tefnptation a Brother which for that fame 
Caife was about to foifake the Order. 

IN the beginning of the Order of Saint 
Francis, while he yet lived, there came 
into the Order a young man of Affifi, which 
was called Brother Simon ; the which God 
adorned and endowed with fo much grace, 
fuch power of contemplation and eleva- 
tion of mind, that throughout his life he 
was ever a mirror of fanftity, according 
as I have heard from them which long 
abode with him. But very rarely was he 
feen outfide his cell, and if ever he did 
abide with the Brothers, he continually 
did difcourfe of God. Never had he ftudied 
the laws of grammar, and neverthelefs dif- 
courfed fo deeply and fo loftily of God 
and of the love of Jefus Chrift, that his 

words 



I70 Elje ILittlt jFloSiaers Df 

words feenied fupernatural words ; hence 
one evening he being gone into the wood 
with Brother James of Maffa to converfe 
of God, and fpeaking moft fweetly of the 
Divine Love, they remained all night in 
fuch difcourfe, and at dawn of day it feemed 
as they had tarried there but a very brief 
fpace, according as the faid Brother James 
did tell me. And the faid Brother Simon 
poffeffed in fuch fuavity and fweetnefs of 
fpirit the divine and loving Light of God, 
that ofttimes when he did feel it defcend- 
ing upon him he would take to his bed ; 
forafmuch as the tranquil fuavity of the 
Holy Ghoft required of him not alone re- 
pofe of foul but likewife of body ; and in 
fuch Divine Vifitations he was ofttimes ab- 
forbed in God, and became wholly infenfible 
to all earthly things. Hence, once being 
thus rapt in God, and infenfible to the 
world, the Divine Love burned within him, 
and he felt naught external with his bodily 
fenfes. A Brother defiring to have proof 
of this, to fee if it were even as it feemed, 
went and took a coal of fire and laid it to 
his bare foot ; and Brother Simon knew 
naught of it, and it made no mark upon 
his foot, albeit it was held there for a great 

fpace 



<Saint Jfvantin of ^nninu 171 

fpace, until it went out of itfelf. The faid 
Brother Simon when he took his feat at 
table, before ever he partook of bodily 
food, took for himfelf and did break the 
fpiritual food, difcourfmg of God. By his 
devout converfation he once converted a 
young man of San Severino, who was in 
his time a moft vain and worldly youth, 
and was of noble blood and very delicate 
of his body : and Brother Simon, receiving 
the young man into the Order, retained his 
fecular garb in his keeping ; and he fo- 
journed with Brother Simon to be taught 
of him the meet obfervances. Wherefore 
the Demon, who labors to diftort all good, 
befet him with fuch fore defire and ardent 
temptation to fm, that in no manner could 
he refift; wherefore he went forth to Brother 
Simon and faid to him : '* Give me again 
my raiment which I wore in the world, for- 
afmuch as I can no longer ftand up againft 
temptation." And Brother Simon, having 
much compaffion for him, faid to him, '* Sit 
here, my fon, a little fpace with me.'' And 
he began to talk with him of God in fuch 
manner that every temptation departed 
from him ; and yet again the temptation 
returned, and he again entreated that his 

raiment 



172 K^t ILtttle jFlotorrs of 

raiment might be reftored unto him. And 
Brother Simon drove it thence with dif- 
courfe of God. And this he did many 
times ; and finally one night the faid temp- 
tation affailed him fo fore, more than was 
its wont, that being unable by any manner 
of means to hold out againft it, he went 
forth to Brother Simon, entreating that his 
worldly raiment might be given him again, 
for in no manner might he linger longer 
there. Then Brother Simon, according as 
was his wont, bade him fit befide him ; and 
as he fpake of God, the young man did lay 
his head in Brother Simon's lap, for pure 
melancholy and grief Then Brother Simon, 
for the great compaffion which he had, raifed 
his eyes to Heaven and made a prayer, be- 
feeching the Lord moft devoutly for him, 
and was rapt and heard of God : hence re- 
turning again to his fenfes, the young man 
felt himfelf wholly freed from that tempta- 
tion, as if he had ne'er felt aught of it : nay 
more, the ardor of temptation being con- 
verted into the ardor of the Holy Ghoft, 
inafmuch as he was brought near to the 
Living Coal, which is Brother Simon, he 
became all inflamed with the love of God 
and his fellow-man ; infomuch that, a male- 

fa6lor 



cSatnt iFrancis ot ^nninu 173 

fa6tor being once taken, both whofe eyes 
were to be plucked from him, he, that is, 
Brother Simon, through compaffion went 
forth fervently to the Prior ; and in full 
Council, and with many tears and devout 
prayers, he entreated that from him might 
be plucked out one eye, and from the male- 
factor another, to the end that the latter 
might not be deprived of both. But the 
Prior and Council, feeing the great fervor 
of the brotherly love of this Friar, did par- 
don both the one and the other. The faid 
Brother Simon being once at prayer within 
a wood, and feeling much confolation in his 
own foul, a band of crows began to con- 
found him with their chatter, at which he 
commanded them in the name of Jefus 
that they fhould depart and return again 
no more ; and the faid birds, departing 
thence, were thenceforth feen no more, 
neither were they heard either there or in 
all the region round about. And this mira- 
cle was known to all the territory of Fermo, 
wherein the faid Convent ftood. 



174 ®^?)f Utttlt iFlotoers of 

CHAPTER XLII. 

Of the fair Miracles which God wrought 
through thofe holy Brethren^ Brother Wel- 
come^ Brother Beter of MonticellOy and 
Brother Conrad of Offida: and how Brother 
Welcome bore a Leper fifteen Miles in mofl 
brief Space : and to the onefpake Saint Michael y 
and to the other came the Virgin Mary and 
laid her Son ift his Arms, 

THE Province of the Marches of An- 
cona was of old adorned with holy 
and exemplary Monks, even as the Heavens 
are adorned with ftars ; which fame Monks, 
like unto the luminaries of the fky, did illu- 
mine and adorn the Order of Saint Fran- 
cis and the world by their example and 
their do6lrine. Firft among thefe men was 
Brother Lucius Antico, who was indeed a 
fhining light for fanftity and burned with 
Divine Charity ; whofe glorious tongue, 
informed of the Holy Ghoft, gathered won- 
drous fruit by its preaching. Another was 
Brother Welcome of San Severino, which 
was feen by Brother Maximus lift up into 
the air for a great fpace, he being at prayer 
in the wood ; for the which miracle the 

devout 



Saint iFtancts of ^uuiuu 175 

devout Brother Maximus, being then parifh 
prieft, left his parifh and became a Gray 
Friar; and was of fuch great fandtity that 
he wrought many miracles both while he 
lived and in his death, and his body lies at 
Murro. The aforefaid Brother Welcome, 
tarrying once alone at Trave Bonanti, to 
watch and wait upon a Leper, being com- 
manded of the Prelate to depart thence 
and go to another Convent which was 
fifteen miles away, being loath to leave 
that Leper, with great ardor of brotherly 
love took him and put him on his back, 
and bore him from dawn of day even until 
the rifing of the fun all that fpace of fifteen 
miles, unto that fame Convent whither he 
was fent, which was called Mount Sancino ; 
which diftance, had he been an eagle, he 
could not fo fwiftly have flown in fo brief a 
fpace : and great were the awe and admira- 
tion at this divine miracle throughout all 
the land. Another was Brother Peter of 
Monticello, which was feen of Brother 
Servetus of Urbino (he being then Prior 
of the ancient Convent of Ancona), raifed 
up bodily above the earth fome five, ay, 
fix cubits, even unto the feet of Chrifl: 
crucified within the Church before whofe 

image 



176 ^i)t aittlt iFlotoers of 

image he tarried in prayer. And this 
Brother Peter, abftaining once upon the 
Fail of the Archangel Saint Michael with 
much devotion, and being at the laft of 
that Faft in the Church at prayer, was 
heard by a youthful Friar (who ftudioufly 
remained hidden below the high altar, to 
fee fome a6l of his fanftity) difcourfing 
with the Archangel Saint Michael ; and 
the words that they fpake were thefe. Said 
Saint Michael: "Brother Peter, faithfully 
you have plagued yourfelf for me, and in 
divers ways have affli6led your body : lo, 
I am come to comfort you, to the end 
that you may require of me whatfoever 
grace you will, and I will entreat it for you 
of God/' Brother Peter replied : " Moll 
Holy Prince and Captain of the Celeftial 
Hoft, and moft faithful partifan of Divine 
Love and pious protestor of fouls, I be- 
feech you grant me this grace ; that you 
will be pleafed to entreat of God that He 
may forgive me all my fins." Saint Michael 
made anfwer : " Afk fome other grace, for 
this I moft cheerfully grant you." And 
Brother Peter afked naught elfe fave only 
this ; and the Archangel concluded : " For 
the faith and devotion which you have in 

me, 



Saint jfvmtin oC ^uuiuu 177 

me, I give you this grace which you have 
afked, and likewife many others." And 
their converfe ended, which had lafted for 
a great fpace, the Archangel Saint Michael 
departed thence, leaving him exceeding 
comforted. 

In the time of this Holy Brother Peter 
lived the Holy Brother Conrad of Offida, 
who, fojourning together with him in the 
fame Convent of Forano in the territory 
of Ancona, the faid Brother Conrad went 
forth one day into the wood to medi- 
tate on God, and Brother Peter went fe- 
cretly after him to fee what might befall 
him ; and Brother Conrad began to lift up 
his voice in prayer, to pray moft devoutly 
to the Virgin Mary with much piety, that 
fhe would obtain for him from her Bleffed 
Son this Grace, — that he might feel a little 
of that fame blifs which Saint Simon felt 
upon the Feaft of the Purification, when he 
did bear Jefus, the Bleffed Saviour, in his 
arms. And having prayed thus, the all- 
merciful Virgin Mary heard his prayer ; for 
lo ! the Queen of Heaven appeared to him 
with her Bleffed Son in her arms, with ex- 
ceeding great light ; and drawing near unto 
Brother Conrad, {he laid that Bleffed Babe 

upon 
12 



178 ^rge afttle iFlotoers of 

upon his arm ; and he receiving Him moft 
devoutly, embracing and kiffmg Him and 
preffing Him to his breaft, languifhed quite 
away, and was confumed with Divine Love 
and inexplicable confolation. And like- 
wife Brother Peter, who had feen all thefe 
things from his hiding, felt the moft ex- 
treme blifs and comfort within his foul. 
And the Virgin Mary departing thence 
from Brother Conrad, Brother Peter retired 
in hafte to the Convent left he fliould be 
feen of him ; but after, when Brother Con- 
rad returned again jocund and alert, Brother 
Peter f aid to him : " Oh, what heavenly great 
eonfolation was yours this day ! " Brother 
Conrad faid, " What fayeft thou. Brother 
Peter ; and what doft thou know of that 
which I have had ? '* " Well I know, well 
I know," faid Brother Peter, " how that the 
Virgin Mary with her Bleffed Son hath 
vifited thee.'' Then Brother Conrad, who 
being truly humble, defired to be fecret 
with the Graces of God, befought him that 
he Ihould fpeak no word of this to any 
man ; and fo great was the love betwixt 
thofe twain from that day forth, that they 
feemed to have but one heart and one foul 
between them in all things. And the faid 

Brother 



Saint iFrancii^ nt ^uuiuu 179 

Brother Conrad did once, at the Convent 
of Siruolo, fet free a woman who was pof- 
feffed of a devil, praying for her all one 
night and appearing to her mother, at 
dawn of day did flee thence left he fliould 
be fought out and honored of the people. 



CHAPTER XLIII. 

Ifow Brother Conrad of Offida did convert a 
young Monk who afflicted the other Friars. 
And how the /aid yowig Monk^ coming to die, 
did appear to the /aid Brother Conrad, entreat- 
ing that he would pray for him : and how he 
fet him free by his Prayers from the very great 
Fains of Furgatory, 

THE faid Brother Conrad, a wondrous 
partifan of Evangelic Poverty and 
the Rule of Saint Francis, was fo religious 
in his life and of fo great merit towards 
God, that Chrift the Bleffed honored him 
with many miracles both in his life and in 
his death ; among which upon a time, being 
come to the Convent of Offida a ftranger, 
the Brethren entreated him for the love of 
God and of true charity to admonilh a young 
Monk who did abide in that Convent, the 

which 



i8o srije amit jFlotoers of 

which bore himfelf fo childifhly, difor- 
derly, and diffolutely that he difturbed 
both old and young of that Convent, heed- 
ing little or naught the divine offices, 
or other Ordinances of the Rule. Upon 
which Brother Conrad, through compaf- 
fion for the young man and at the prayers 
of the Brothers, did one day call that youth 
apart ; and in a fervor of brotherly love 
fpake to him fuch efficacious and devout 
words of admonition, that by the aftion of 
Divine Grace he fuddenly became, from a 
child, an old man in his habit, and fo obe- 
dient and benign and diligent and devout, 
and moreover fo peaceful and fo docile, and 
fo fludious of all virtuous deeds, that even 
as before the whole Convent had been dif- 
turbed through him, fo now all were made 
comfortable and content through him, and 
they loved him much. It happened, as it 
pleafed God, that thereafter, after his con- 
verfion, the faid youth died ; at which the 
faid Brothers mourned. And a few days 
after his death his foul did appear to 
Brother Conrad, he being devoutly at 
prayer before the altar of their faid Con- 
vent, and faluted him pioufly, as a father ; 
and Brother Conrad afked him : *' Who art 

thou ? " 



cSatnt iFtantis of ^nnini. i8i 

thou ? *' The fame made anfvver and faid : 
** I am the Soul of that young Monk which 
did die a brief fpace fince/' And Brother 
Conrad faid : '' Oh, my moft beloved Son, 
how is it with thee ? " The fame made 
anfwer : " Through the Grace of God and 
thy doftrines it is well with me, foraf- 
much as I am not damned : but for certain 
of my fins, of which I had not time fufifi- 
ciently to purge me, I muft endure the 
worft pains of Purgatory ; thus I befeech 
thee, Father, as by thy piety thou didft fuc- 
cor me in my living, fo now it may pleafe 
thee to fuccor me in my torment, reciting 
certain Paternofters for me ; for thy prayers 
are moft acceptable in the fight of God/' 
Then Brother Conrad, confenting kindly 
to his entreaties, and faying the Paternofter 
for him but a lingle time together with the 
Requiem ceternam^ that Soul cried out : ^^Oh, 
beloved Father, what well-being and refrefh- 
ment I perceive ! Now, I befeech thee, fay 
them yet once again." And Brother Con- 
rad did fo ; and he having recited them, the 
Soul faid : *' Holy Father, when thou doft 
pray for me I feel much eafe : hence I en- 
treat thee that thou ceafe not from worlhip 
and praife for me/' Then Brother Conrad, 

feeing 



1 82 JTije iLittle iFlototts o€ 

feeing that that Soul was thus aided by his 
prayers, recited for him an hundred Pater- 
nofters ; and when that he had ended them, 
that Soul did fay : " I thank thee, beloved 
Father, in the name of God, for the broth- 
erly love which thou haft Ihown towards 
me ; forafmuch as through thefe thy prayers 
I am fet free from all pains, and am about 
to enter the kingdom of Heaven.'* And 
faying this, that Soul departed thence. 
Then Brother Conrad, to the end that he 
might give comfort and joy to the Breth- 
ren, recited to them all this Vifion in due 
order. And thus the Soul of that youth 
entered Paradife through the merits of 
Brother Conrad. 



CHAPTER XLIV. 

How the Mother of Chrijl and Saint John the 
Evangelijl did appear unto Brother Conrad^ 
and did tell him which of they twain did grieve 
mofl fore for the Faffcon of Chrifl. 

IN the days when there abode together 
in the territory of the Marches of 
Ancona, at the Convent of Forano, Brother 

Conrad 



Saint iFtancts of ^minu 183 

Conrad and the aforefaid Brother Peter, 
which were two fhining ftars of the Prov- 
ince of the Marches, and two celeftially- 
tninded men, forafmuch as between them 
was fo much Love and fo much Charity that 
they feemed but one heart and one foul, 
they were both bound together by this 
contra6l : that every confolation which 
the Grace of God Ihould grant them they 
fhould mutually reveal the one to the other 
in all brotherly affection. This contra6t 
being figned and fealed, it befell that 
Brother Peter being one day at prayer, 
and meditating mofl devoutly upon the 
Paffion of Chrift, and how the moft Blefled 
Mother of Chrifl and John the Evangelift, 
His moft dearly loved Difciple, and Saint 
Francis, were portrayed at the foot of the 
Crofs, crucified with Chrift by mental pangs 
and dolor, he was feized with a longing 
to know which of thefe three did grieve 
moft fore for Chrifl's PafTion, — whether the 
Mother who bare Him, or the Difciple 
who had flept upon His bofom, or Saint 
Francis, w^hich was crucified with Chrift ; 
and lingering thus loft in thefe pious muf- 
ings, the Virgin Mary appeared unto him 
with Saint John the Evangelift, and with 

Saint 



184 3ri)e atttle jFIotoeris ot 

Saint Francis, arrayed in moft fair raiment 
of beatific glory ; but behold ! Saint Francis 
feemed clad in more beauteous garb than 
Saint John. And Peter being all alarmed 
at this vifion, Saint John comforted him, 
and faid to him : " Fear not, beloved 
Brother, forafmuch as we are come to com- 
fort thee in thy doubt. Know, then, that 
the Mother of Chrift and I did grieve be- 
yond all other creatures at the Paffion of 
Chrift ; but after us. Saint Francis felt 
greater pangs than any other, and hence 
doft thou fee him clad in fuch glory/' 
And Brother Peter alked him : " Moft holy 
Apoftle of Chrift, why feemeth the raiment 
of Saint Francis more fair than thine ? " 
Saint John made anfwer : " The reafon is 
this : forafmuch as when he lived on earth 
he did wear raiment more vile than I." 
And faying thefe words. Saint John be- 
ftowed on Brother Peter a glorious gar- 
ment which he held in his hand, and faid 
to him : *' Take this garment, which I. have 
brought to give to thee." And Saint John 
defiring to clothe him with this garment, 
Brother Peter fell to the ground in a maze, 
and cried aloud : ** Brother Conrad, dear- 
eft Brother Conrad, fuccor me ftraight; 

come 



cSatnt jFranciJS ot ^uuinu- 185 

come hither and fee marvellous things." 
And as he fpake thefe holy words that fa- 
cred vifion vanifhed quite away. Then 
Brother Conrad coming there, he told him 
all things in due order as they had hap- 
pened ; and they gave thanks unto God. 



CHAPTER XLV. 

0/ the Converjion a?id Life and Miracles and 
Death of that holy Brother^ John of the Fen. 

BROTHER JOHN OF THE PEN be- 
ing yet a child and not a churchman, 
in the Province of the Marches of Ancona, 
one night there appeared before him a moft 
beauteous boy, who cried aloud unto him : 
" John, go forth unto St. Stephen's Church, 
where there preacheth one of my Gray 
Friars ; believe thou in his teaching, and 
hearken to his words, forafmuch as I have 
fent thee thither : and this done, thou muft 
take a far journey, returning then again to 
me/* Upon which forthwith he rofe up, 
and felt a marvellous change within his 
foul ; and going forth to St. Stephen's 
Church, found there a great multitude of 

men 



1 86 STl^e SlCttle jFlotoers of 

men and women tarrying to hear the 
preaching. And he who was to preach 
there was a certain brother, Brother Philip 
by name, which was one of the first Friars 
who had come into the Marches of Ancona; 
and but few convents had as yet been 
founded in that region. Going up into the 
pulpit, this Brother Philip began to preach ; 
and he preached moft pioufly, not with 
words of human wifdom, but by virtue of 
the Spirit of Chrift, foretelling the kingdom 
of Eternal Life. And the fermon ended, 
the faid child went forth to the faid Brother 
Philip, and fpake to him : ^^ Father, if it 
pleafe thee to receive me into the Order, I 
will cheerfully do penance, and will ferve 
our Lord Jefus Chrift." Brother Philip 
feeing and recognizing in the faid child a 
marvellous innocence and a prompt defire 
to ferve God, faid to him : " Come to me 
on fuch a day at Recanati, and I will fee 
that thou art received ; for in that place 
we do intend to make the Provincial Chap- 
ter-houfe;" at which the child, which was 
moft exceeding fimple, bethought himfelf 
that this was the far journey which he 
muft take, according unto the revelation 
which had been made unto him, and there- 
after 



.Saint iFrancis of ^buiuu 187 

after he fhould go thence to Paradife ; and 
fo he thought he mull do fo foon as he had 
been received into the Order. He went 
thither, therefore, and was received : and 
feeing that his thoughts were not then 
fulfilled, the Head of the Chapter faying 
that whofoever would go forth through the 
Province of Provence, through the merit of 
his holy vow of Obedience, he would cheer- 
fully give him leave fo to do, he felt a 
great defire to go thither, thinking in his 
heart that even this was the great journey 
which he was to take before he might 
reach Paradife ; but feeling fhame to tell 
his thoughts, at laft he confided them to 
the aforefaid Brother Philip, who had had 
him taken into the Order, begging him lov- 
ingly that he would entreat for him leave 
to go into the Province of Provence. Then 
Brother Philip, feeing his purity and his 
holy purpofe, begged for him this grace : 
whence Brother John with great rejoicing 
fet about his departure, full of the thought 
that, his journey ended, he fhould go thence 
to Paradife. But, as it pleafed God, he fo- 
journed in the faid Province twenty-five 
years in this expeftation and defire, living 
in extreme honefty and fan6lity and exem- 

plarity, 



1 88 3C1^e Etttle jTlotoer^ of 

plarity, growing ever in virtue and in the 
Grace of God and of the people, and was 
fupremely loved' alike of Monks and laymen. 
And Brother John being one day devoutly 
at prayer, and weeping and wailing becaufe 
his defire was not fulfilled, and that his 
pilgrimage through this life was too long 
protrafted, there appeared unto him Chrift 
the Bleffed, at whofe afpedl his whole foul 
was melted within him, and He fpake to 
him thus : " Son, Brother John, require of 
Me what thou wilt." And he made anfwer: 
" My Lord, I know not what other thing to 
afk of Thee than this, fmce I defire naught 
elfe : but this only do I pray Thee, that 
Thou wilt forgive me all my fins, and wilt 
grant me grace to fee Thee yet once again, 
when I may have greater need of Thee/' 
Jefus faid : '* Thy prayer is granted ; '' 
and faying this, He departed thence, and 
Brother John was left wholly comforted. 
At the laft the Monks of the Marches, 
hearing the fame of his holinefs, fpake fuch 
great things of him to the Vicar General, 
that he commanded him by his vow of 
Obedience to return into the Marches ; 
which command he receiving, fet forth 
joyfully, thinking that, the journey over, he 

ftiould 



cSatnt jFrantts ot ^uuiuU 189 

fliould furely rife to Heaven, according to 
the promife of Chrift. But being returned 
again into the Province of the Marches, he 
lived there thirty years, and was not known 
of any of his kindred ; and every day he 
waited for the Mercy of the Lord, that He 
fhould fulfil His promife. And in thofe 
days he many times filled the office of 
Prior with much difcretion ; and Our Lord 
wrought many miracles through him. And 
among other gifts which he had of God, he 
had the fpirit of prophecy ; hence once, 
he going forth from the Convent, a certain 
one among his novices was attacked by a 
Demon and fo forely tempted that he, con- 
fenting unto the temptation, determined 
within himfelf to forfake the Order fo foon 
as Brother John Ihould return again from 
abroad ; which thing, both temptation and 
deliberation, being made known to Brother 
John through the fpirit of prophecy, he 
ftraightway returned home, and called be- 
fore him the faid novice, telling him that 
he defired to hear his confeffion : but be- 
fore ever he did confefs, he recited to him 
all his temptation in order, even as God 
had revealed it to him, and concluded thus : 
'' Son, forafmuch as you awaited my com- 
ing, 



1 90 Kfit acttle jFlototrs of 

ing, and would not depart without my bleff- 
ing, God hath granted you this grace, that 
you Ihall never leave this Order, but fhall 
die in the Order with the Divine Favor.*' 
Then the faid novice was confirmed in 
good-will, and remaining in the Order he 
became a holy Monk; and Brother Hugh 
told all these things to me. The faid 
Brother John, which was a man of bright 
and peaceful fpirit, and but rarely fpake, 
was a man of great devotion and prayer, 
and efpecially after Matins he would never 
return into his cell, but would tarry in the 
church praying until day. And he being 
at prayer one night after Matins, the 
Angel of the Lord appeared before him, 
faying : " Brother John, the end of your 
journey, which you have fo long awaited, 
is at hand, and I am come to tell you in 
God's name that you may now alk whatfo- 
ever favor you will And I alfo announce 
that you may choofe whichfoever you will, 
either one day in Purgatory, or a week of 
torment in this world." And Brother John, 
choofmg rather the week of torment in this 
world, fuddenly he was afflifted with divers 
ills ; forafmuch as he was burned with 
fever, and pinched hand and foot with 

gout 



Satnt jFtancts of ^nninu 191 

gout, and many other ills ; but that which 
troubled him moft was, that a Demon flood 
before him and held in his hand a great 
parchment infcribed with all the fins which 
he had ever finned or conceived, and faid 
to him : " For thefe fins which you have 
wrought in thought, and with your tongue, 
and in deed, you are condemned to the 
loweft depths of Hell.'* And he was not 
mindful of any good thing which he had 
ever done, neither that he was in the Order, 
neither that he had ever been ; but believed 
verily that he was damned even as the 
Demon faid. Whence, when he was afked 
how he did, he replied : '* Very ill, foraf- 
much as I am damned." The Brethren 
feeing this, they fent for a very ancient 
Brother, Brother Matthew of Mount Rub- 
biano by name, which was a holy man and 
very dear to this Brother John ; and the 
faid Brother Matthew, coming to him on 
the feventh day of his tribulation, greeted 
him, and afl<:ed him how he fared. He 
made anfwer that he fared but ill, becaufe 
he was damned. Then faid Brother Mat- 
thew : " Remember you not that many 
times you have confeffed to me and I have 
abfolved you wholly of all your fins ? and 

yet 



192 Oje aittle iFlotoeris ot 

yet again, remember you not that you have 
ever ferved God in this Holy Order for 
thefe many years ? and again, remember 
you not that the merciful kindnefs of God 
exceedeth all the fms of the world, and that 
Chrift the Bleffed, our Saviour, hath paid 
an infinite price for our redemption ? And 
therefore be of good cheer, for verily you 
are faved.'* And with thefe words, the 
term of his purgation being fulfilled, the 
temptation departed from him, and confo- 
lation came. And with great rejoicing 
Brother John fpake to Brother Matthew: 
*'Forafmuch as you are weary and the hour 
is late, I pray you go to your reft/* And 
Brother Matthew would not leave him ; 
but yet at laft, at his great inftance, he 
went from him and lay down to reft : and 
Brother John remained alone with the 
Brother who ferved upon him. And lo ! 
Chrift the Bleifed came with exceeding 
great fplendor, and with exceffive fweet fmell, 
according as He had promifed to appear to 
him once again when he had greater need 
of Him; and He healed him of his every 
ill. Then Brother John with clafped hands 
gave thanks to God, who with wife defign 
had thus ended his great journey of the 

prefent 



Saint jFvancis of ^nuinu 193 

prefent miferable life, committed himfelf to 
the care of Chrift and rendered up his foul 
to God, paffing from this mortal life into 
Eternal Life with Chrift the Bleffed, which 
he had fo long defired and waited to fee. 
And the faid Brother John refts in the 
Convent of Brother John of the Pen. 



CHAPTER XLVI. 

Ifow Brother Peace being at Prayer faw the 
Soul of his Brother, Brother Humility, afcend 
to Heaven, 

IN the aforefaid Province of the Marches, 
after the death of Saint Francis, were 
two Brothers belonging to the Order ; the 
one was called Brother Humility and the 
other was called Brother Peace, the which 
were men of moft extreme fanftity and 
perfe6lion ; and the one, that is Brother 
Humility, abode in the Convent of Soffiano, 
and there did die ; and the other dwelt in 
a community belonging to another Con- 
vent quite remote therefrom. As it pleafed 
God, Brother Peace being one day at prayer 
in a folitary fpot was rapt in ecftafy, and 

faw 
13 



194 ^8^ aittlt iflotoers ot 

faw the foul of Brother Humility rife 
ftraight to Heaven, without any let or 
hindrance, even in the felfsame moment 
that it left the body. It then happed that 
after many years this Brother Peace, who 
remained, was placed with the Monks of 
the faid Convent of Soffiano, where his 
brother had died. In thofe days the Breth- 
ren, at the petition of the Lords of Bru- 
forte, exchanged the faid Convent for 
another : wherefore among other things 
they did tranflate the relics of certain 
Holy Friars which had died within thofe 
walls : and coming to the fepulchre of 
Brother Humility, his brother, Brother 
Peace, took up his bones and wafhed them 
with good red wine ; and then he wrapped 
them in a fair white napkin, and with great 
reverence and devotion kiffed them and 
wept ; at which the other Monks mar- 
velled, and held him as an ill example, 
forafmuch as, he being a man of great 
fanftity, it feemed that through fenfu- 
al and fecular love he did weep for his 
brother, and that he fhowed more de- 
votion towards his remains than towards 
thofe of the other Monks, who were no 
lefs holy than Brother Humility, and were 

worthy 



cSaint fftmtiH of ^uniuu 195 

worthy of as much reverence as he. And 
Brother Peace knowing the evil imagina- 
tion of the Brethren, meekly fatisfied them, 
faying unto them : " My beloved Brothers, 
marvel not if I do thefe things to the bones 
of my Brother and do them not likewife to 
the others, inafmuch as, bleffed be God, I 
am not led, as you believe, by carnal love ; 
but I have done fo becaufe that when my 
brother paffed away from this life I, pray- 
ing in a defert fpot and remote from him, 
faw his foul rife ftraight into Heaven ; and 
hence I am affured that his bones are fa- 
cred and fhould reft in Paradife. And had 
God granted me a fimilar affurance con- 
cerning the other Friars, I fhould have 
fhowed the fame reverence to their bones. 
For the which thing the Brethren, feeing 
his holy and devout intention, were much 
edified, and praifed God. 



196 Kfit ILittlt jFlototrs of 



CHAPTER XLVII. 

0/ that Holy Monk to whom the Mother of 
Chrijl appeared when he was infirm, and 
brought him three Boxes of Ele^uary, 

IN the aforefaid Convent of Soffiano 
there was of old a Gray Friar of 
fuch exceeding fanftity and grace that he 
feemed all divine, and ofttimes was he rapt 
in God. This Brother being on a certain 
time quite abforbed in God and exalted, 
forafmuch as he was notably endowed with 
the grace of contemplation, there came unto 
him birds of divers kinds, and familiarly 
alighted upon his fhoulders, upon his head, 
and upon his arms, and upon his hands, 
and marvelloufly did they fing. This man 
was a folitary foul and but rarely fpake ; 
but when he was queftioned concerning 
aught, he made anfwer fo gracioufly and fo 
prudently that he feemed rather an Angel 
than a man ; and he was moft fervent in 
prayer and contemplation ; and the Brothers 
held him in great reverence. This Brother 
having fulfilled the courfe of his virtuous 
life, according to Divine ordinance, he fell 

ill 



cSaint jfvmtin ot ^nniuu 197 

ill even unto death, infomuch that naught 
could he take ; and therewithal he would re- 
ceive no carnal medicine, but all his faith he 
put in the Heavenly Phyfician, Jefus Chrift 
the Bleffed, and in His Bleffed Mother; 
thereby he merited the divine clemency of 
being mercifully vifited and healed. Hence 
he being once in his bed and making ready 
for death with all his heart, and with all 
due devotion, there appeared unto him the 
glorious Virgin Mary, Mother of Chrift, 
with an exceeding great multitude of An- 
gels and Holy Virgins, with wondrous 
fplendor. She drew nigh unto his bed : 
whence he gazing upon her was moft 
greatly comforted and rejoiced, both in 
foul and in body; and he began to pray 
humbly that She would pray Her beloved 
Son that through His merits He would 
releafe him from the prifon-houfe of this 
wretched flefh. And perfevering in this 
prayer with many tears, the Virgin Mary 
replied to him, calling him by name, and 
faying : ** Doubt not, fon, forafmuch as your 
prayer is granted, and I am come to com- 
fort you a little before that you depart 
hence from this life/' There were with 
the Virgin Mary three Holy Virgins, which 

bore 



198 Kfit nettle jFIotoeris of 

bore in their hands three boxes of Ele6luary 
of matchlefs odor and fweetnefs. Then the 
glorious Virgin took and opened one of 
thofe boxes, and all the houfe was filled 
full of the fmell ; and taking a fmall por- 
tion of that Eledluary in a fpoon, She gave 
it to the fick man : who, fo foon as he had 
received it, felt fuch great comfort and eafe 
that it feemed as his foul could no longer 
abide within his body; whence he began 
to fay : " No more, O moft holy and bleffed 
Virgin Mother ! O bleffed Healer and Sav- 
iour of mankind, no more ! for I am unable 
to endure fuch fweetness.*' But the pious 
and benign Mother Hill offering that Eleft- 
uary to the fick man and conftraining him 
to take it, emptied all that box. Then the 
firft box being emptied, the beatific Virgin 
took the fecond and laid the fpoon therein 
to give to him ; whereat he did lament, 
faying : " O moft bleffed Mother of God ! 
my foul is almoft melted away by the 
ftrength and fweetnefs of the firft Eleftu- 
ary, and how may I endure the fecond ? 
I pray you, bleffed above all Saints and all 
Angels, that you will be pleafed to give me 
no more." The glorious Virgin Mary an- 
fwered : " Tafte, my fon, but a little of this 

fecond 



<Satnt J^vmtlu of ^uninu 199 

fecond box." And giving him a little, fhe 
faid : " Now, fon, you have fo much as 
may fufifice ; be comforted, O fon, for I 
will come for you ere long, and will lead 
you to the kingdom of my Son, which you 
have ever fought and defired/' And fay- 
ing this, taking leave of him. She departed 
thence ; and he was left fo confoled and 
comforted by the fweetnefs of that confec- 
tion, that for feveral days more he furvived 
fated and ftrong, and partaking of no bodily 
food. And after fome days, joyoufly dif- 
courfing with the Brethren, with great jubi- 
lee and rejoicing, he paffed away from this 
miferable life. 



CHAPTER XLVIII. 

How Brother yames of Maffa faw in a Vifion 
all the Gray Friars of the World, after the 
Fafhion of a Tree^ a7id did know the Virtues 
and the Merits and the Vices of every one, 

BROTHER JAMES OF MASSA, to 
whom God opened the way to His 
myfteries, and gave him perfe6l wifdom and 
underftanding of the Divine Scriptures and 

of 



200 ^fit %ittlt iFloUjerm ot 

of future things, was of fuch great fanftity, 
that Brother Guy of Affifi, and Brother 
Mark of Montino, and Brother Juniper, 
and Brother Lucius faid of him that they 
knew no man in the world more familiar 
with God than this Brother James. Great 
was my delire to fee him ; forafmuch as I, 
praying Brother John, the Companion of 
the faid Brother Guy, that he would ex- 
pound to me certain fpiritual matters, he 
faid to me : " If you would be well informed 
concerning the life of the Spirit, make 
Ihift to have fpeech with Brother James of 
Maffa : '* forafmuch as Brother Guy longed 
to be informed of him, and no man was able 
either to add or to take away from his 
words, not one jot or tittle, and his words 
are the words of the Holy Ghoft, and there 
is no man on the earth whom I fo much 
defire to fee. This Brother James, in the 
beginning of the miniftry of Brother John 
of Parma, praying was once rapt in God, 
and remained three days in this ftate of 
ecftafy, deprived of all bodily fenfe, and 
was fo lifelefs that the Brethren doubted 
whether he were not dead ; and in this 
trance God revealed to him the future of 
our Order : for the which thing, when I 

heard 



cSaint iFrantts of ^uuinu 201 

heard it, my defire to hear him and to 
fpeak with him did but wax ever greater. 
And when it pleafed God that I fhould 
have occafion to talk with him, I befought 
him thus : *' If thofe things be true which I 
have heard of thee, I prythee keep them 
not hidden from me. I have heard that 
when thou didft lie three days as one dead, 
among other things which God revealed 
unto thee was that which was to befall this 
our Order ; and this was I told by Brother 
Matthew, preacher in the Marches, to whom 
thou didft reveal it in compliance with 
thy vows of Obedience." Then Brother 
James with great humility acknowledged 
that the words of Brother Matthew were 
true. His words, that is, thofe of Brother 
Matthew, the preacher in the Marches, were 
thefe : " I know, Brother, unto whom God 
hath made known that which fhall befall 
our Order, forafmuch as Brother James 
of Maffa hath publifhed and told me, that 
after many things which God revealed to 
him concerning the future ftate of the 
Church Militant, he faw in a vifion a beau- 
teous and very great tree, whofe roots were 
made of gold, the fruits which hung upon 
its boughs were men, and they all were 

Gray 



202 2Ci)t acttle ^U\s^tvn €f 

Gray Friars, the chief branches being di- 
vided according to the number of the Prov- 
inces of the Order ; and upon each branch 
hung fo many Friars as there were in the 
Province appropriated to that branch ; and 
thus he knew the number of all the Friars 
in the Order, and of each Province, and alfo 
their names and ages and conditions, and 
the great offices and dignities and efpecial 
graces belonging to each, and their offences. 
And he faw Brother John of Parma at the 
higheft tip of the midmoft bough of this 
tree ; and in the topmoft twigs of the 
branches, which grew about this midmoft 
branch, flood the minifters of every Prov- 
ince. And after this he faw Chrift feated 
upon a great white throne ; and Chrift called 
Saint Francis to fit befide him, and gave 
him a Chalice full of the Water of Life, 
and fent him forth, faying : ' Go, vifit your 
Brethren, and give them to drink of this 
Cup of the Water of Life ; forafmuch as the 
fpirit of Satan ftiall rife up againft them 
and fhall dafh them down, and many among 
them fhall fall and fhall not rife again.* 
And Chrift gave to Saint Francis two 
Angels which fhould walk befide him. 
And then came Saint Francis to offer the 

Cup 



SaCnt jfvamin ot ^uuinU 203 

Cup of Life to his Brethren : and he did 
firft offer it to Brother John of Parma, who, 
taking, drank it all, every drop, devoutly 
and in hafte ; and fuddenly he became 
luminous as the fun. And after him fuc- 
ceffively Saint Francis offered it to all the 
reft : and there were but few among them 
who with due reverence and devotion did 
take and drink it all. They who took it 
pioufly and drank it all, every drop, ftraight- 
way became fplendid as the fun ; and they 
which fpilled it on the ground and received 
it not with meet piety, became black, or 
dark and miffhapen, and horrible to look 
upon : they that drank a part and poured 
out a part became partly luminous and 
partly fhadowed, and in greater or lefs de- 
gree, according to the meafure of that that 
they drank and fquandered ; but more than 
all the reft the aforefaid Brother John 
fhone refplendent, which moft' compla- 
cently had drank the Cup of Life, whereby 
he had moft deeply contemplated the abyfs 
of infinite light, and therein had perceived 
the adverfity and tempeft which were to 
arife againft the faid tree, to fhake and 
agitate its branches. Wherefore the faid 
Brother John departed from the tip of the 

bough 



204 STfjt mttlr jFIototris cf 

bough whereon he ftood, and defcending 
downwards through all the boughs, did hide 
himfelf amid the great limbs of the tree 
clofe to the trunk, and there abode in pen- 
five mood : and a certain Brother, which 
had taken a portion of the Cup and had 
fquandered a part, mounted up to that 
branch and that twig whence Brother 
John did defcend. And being on the faid 
twig, the nails of his hands were changed 
to fharp and piercing fteel, like unto razors : 
upon which he did move from that place 
whither he had climbed, and with force and 
fury would fain have thrown himfelf upon 
the faid Brother John to do him an injury ; 
but Brother John feeing this, cried out in a 
loud voice, and confided himfelf to the care 
of Chrift, which fat upon the throne ; and 
Chrift at his call fummoned Saint Francis, 
and gave him a fharp flint ftone, and faid 
to him : * Go with this ftone and cut the 
nails of yonder Friar, with which he would 
fain claw Brother John, to the end that he 
may do no manner of harm to any man.' 
Then Saint Francis came and did even as 
Chrift did command him. And this done, 
there came a whirlwind, and fhook the 
tree fo fore that the Brothers fell to earth ; 

and 



<Saint iFrancfs ot ^uuinu 205 

and the firft to fall were they who had 
fpilled all the Cup of the Water of Life, and 
were borne thence by Demons to realms 
of darknefs and torment. But Brother 
John, together with the others which had 
drunk all the Cup, were tranflated of An- 
gels to the abode of Life and Eternal Light 
and of Beatific Splendor. And the aforefaid 
Brother James, who faw the vifion, under- 
ftood and knew particularly and diftindlly 
that which he faw, reading clearly the 
names and conditions and ftates of each. 
And fo long endured that tempeft about 
the tree, that it fell, and the wind bore it 
away. And then fo foon as the tempeft did 
ceafe to rage, from the root of that tree, 
which was of gold, fprang forth another 
tree, which was all of gold, which brought 
forth flowers and fruits and foliage of gold. 
Of the which tree, and of its increafe, fize, 
beauty, odor, and virtues, it is better to be 
filent than to fpeak at this prefent." 



2o6 3ri)e Hittlt jFlotoers ot 

CHAPTER XLIX. 
Ifow Chrijl appeared to Brother John of Vernia, 

AMONG the other wife and holy Broth- 
ers and fons of Saint Francis, who, 
as Solomon faith, are the glory of their 
father, there lived in our times, and in the 
faid Province of the Marches, the venerable 
and holy Brother John of Fermo, the which, 
by reafon of the great fpace that he abode 
in the Holy Convent of Vernia, and for 
that he there paffed away out of this life, 
was alfo called Brother John of Vernia, 
forafmuch as he was a man of rare life 
and of great fanftity. This Brother John, 
being a layman and yet a child, defired 
with all his heart to follow the way of 
true repentance, which Ihould keep his 
foul and body clean and pure ; hence, 
being but a little lad, he began to bear 
about him a breaftplate and an iron belt 
next his Ikin, and to keep great fafts, and 
efpecially when he fojourned with the 
Canons of Saint Peter of Fermo, which 
lived fplendidly, he would ihun fenfual de- 
lights, and mortify his flefh with moft rigid 

faftings. 



cSatnt Jpvantin oi ^uniuu 207 

fadings. But his companions being moft 
contrary to him in this, tearing from him 
his breaftplate and hindering him in divers 
fafhions from fafting, he, infpired of God, 
bethought him to forfake the world and its 
lovers, and to caft himfelf wholly into the 
arms of Chrift crucified, with the habit of 
the crucified Saint Francis ; and even fo he 
did. And being received into the Order 
thus young, and committed to the care of 
the Mafter of the Novices, he became fo 
fpiritual and devout, that once on a time 
hearing the faid Mafter difcourfe of God, 
his heart melted within him like wax before 
the fire ; and with fuch exceeding fweet 
grace was he warmed by Divine Love, that 
he, not able fteadfaftly to endure fuch great 
fuavity, rofe up, and, like a man drunk in 
fpirit, ran hither and thither, now through 
the garden, now the wood, and now the 
church, according as the flame and fury of 
the fpirit did urge him on. Then in the 
courfe of time Divine Grace did make this 
angelic man to grow from virtue to vir- 
tue, and in celeftial gifts and divine ex- 
altation and ecftafies, infomuch that at 
certain times his mind was exalted to the 
fplendors of the Cherubim, at other times 

to 



2o8 argt %ittlt JflO\BtVU of 

to the joys of the Bleffed, and yet again 
to the loving and extraordinary embrace 
of Chrift. And efpecially upon a certain 
day was the flame of Divine Love once 
kindled in his heart, and this fire burned 
within him for the fpace of three years, 
in which time he received marvellous con- 
folations and Divine vifitations and was 
ofttimes rapt in God ; and did speedily 
appear all on fire and aflame with the 
love of Chrift : and this was on the holy 
Mount of Vernia. But inafmuch as God 
is ftrangely watchful of his children, giv- 
ing them, according to their various ne- 
ceffities, now confolation, now tribulation, 
now profperity, and now adverfity, accord- 
ing as He fees it needful to uphold them in 
the way of humility, or the more to enkindle 
their defire after celeftial things, it pleafed 
the Divine Bounty, after the three years, to 
take away from the faid Brother John that 
bright beam and that flame of Divine Love, 
and to deprive him of all f piritual confolation. 
For the which Brother John was left with- 
out light and without the love of God, and 
was quite comfortlefs and afflifted and 
fad ; wherefore he wandered through the 
wood, roaming hither and yon, calling with 

groans 



Saint jFrancis of ^nninu 209 

groans and tears and fighs to the beloved 
Spoufe of his foul, which had hidden Him- 
felf and departed from him, and without 
whofe prefence his foul could find no reft 
neither any repofe : but in no place, neither 
in any manner, could he meet his fweet 
Jefus, or again recover thofe moft dear 
and divine delights of the love of Chrift, 
which had been his wont. And this tribula- 
tion endured for many days ; during which 
he perfevered in continual weeping and 
fighing, and in praying God that of His 
pity He would reftore to him the beloved 
Spoufe of his foul. At the laft, when it 
pleafed God to have fufificiently proved his 
patience and inflamed his defire, one day, 
as Brother John walked in the faid wood 
thus troubled and affli6led, he fat down 
to reft in fheer languor, leaning againft a 
beech-tree, with his face all bathed in 
tears, gazing Heavenward, and lo ! fuddenly 
there appeared Jefus Chrift clofe befide 
him in the very path by which Brother 
John came thither, but faying naught 
Brother John feeing Him and knowing 
Him well, that He was Chrift, fuddenly 
threw himfelf at His feet and with inor- 
dinate tears moft humbly befought Him, 

faying : 
14 



2IO sri^e aittle iFlotoeris ot 

faying: "Help me, Lord, for without Thee, 
my fweeteft Saviour, I live in darknefs and 
in the midft of tears ; without Thee, moft 
meek and gentle Lamb, I live in anguifh, 
in pain and fear ; without Thee, Son of 
God Moft High, I Hve in confufion and 
fhame ; without Thee I am ftripped of 
every good, and blind, forafmuch as Thou 
art Chrift Jefus, True Light of fouls ; with- 
out Thee I am loft and damned, forafmuch 
as Thou art the Spiritual Life, and the 
very Life of Life ; without Thee I am 
withered and dry, forafmuch as Thou art 
the Fountain of every gift and every grace; 
without Thee I am all comfortlefs, foraf- 
much as Thou art Jefus, our redemption, 
love, and delire, the Bread that doth com- 
fort, and the Vine that maketh to rejoice 
the hearts of Angels and the hearts of all 
the Saints. Shine upon me, moft gracious 
Mafter and moft loving Shepherd, foraf- 
much as I am Thy lamb, unworthy though 
I am.'* But to the end that the defire of 
holy men, unto which our Lord is flow to 
hearken, might be kindled unto greater love 
and merit, Chrift the Bleffed departed thence 
and left him unheard, neither fpake He any 
word, and went His way along that felf- 

fame 



Saint ifrantis of ^nniui. 2 1 1 

fame path. Then Brother John rofe up, 
and haftene^ after him, and yet again did 
fall at His feet, and with a holy importu- 
nity did hold Him by His garment, and 
with moft pious tears befought Him, fay- 
ing : " O fweeteft Jefus Chrift, have mercy 
upon my tribulation ; hearken unto me for 
the abundance of Thy mercy, and for the 
truth of Thy falvation, and give me back 
the light of Thy countenance and of Thy 
loving kindnefs, forafmuch as the whole 
earth is full of Thy merciful deeds." And 
Chrift departed from him yet again, and 
fpake not to him, neither gave He him any 
confolation ; and He did even as the mother 
doth to her child, when fhe lets him long 
for her breaft, and lures him to purfue her 
with weeping, to the end that fo he may 
take it more gladly. At which Brother 
John once more with greater fervor and 
defire followed after Chrift; and having 
drawn nigh to Him, Chrift the Bleffed 
turned to him, and looked upon him with 
a gracious and fmiling countenance ; and 
opening His moft holy and merciful arms, 
He did moft fweetly embrace him. And in 
that opening of His arms Brother Joljn 
faw rays of refplendent light to iffue from 

the 



212 srgt aittU iTIotoetis of 

the moil Sacred Breaft of the Saviour, the 
which lighted all the wood and pierced his 
very foul and body. Then Brother John 
knelt at Chrift's feet; and the Bleffed Jefus, 
even as He did to Magdalen, gave him His 
foot to kifs. And Brother John, taking it 
with fupreme reverence, bathed it in fo 
many tears that verily he feemed another 
Magdalen; and he cried devoutly: "I pray 
Thee, O Lord, that Thou wilt not regard 
my fins, but by Thy moft Holy Paffion, and 
by the fhedding of Thy moft Precious and 
Holy Blood, that Thou wilt revive my foul 
by the grace of Thy Love ; fince this is 
Thy command, that we love Thee with all 
our hearts and with all our minds ; which 
command can none fulfil without Thy aid. 
Aid me, then, moft beloved Son of God, for 
I love Thee with my whole heart and my 
whole ftrength." And Brother John, en- 
treating thus at Chrift's feet, was heard of 
Him, and again received from Him his 
former grace, which is the flame of Divine 
love, and felt himfelf quite confoled and 
renewed ; and knowing the gift of Divine 
grace to have returned into him, he began 
to give thanks unto Chrift the Bleffed, and 
devoutly to kifs His feet. And then rifing 

up 



Saint jpvantiu ot ^nniuu 213 

up to gaze upon the face of Chrift, Jefus 
Chrift ftretched forth and offered him His 
moft Sacred Hands to kifs : and when that 
Brother John had kiffed them, he drew 
near and fell upon Chrift's bofom and em- 
braced and kiffed Him ; and Jefus likewife 
did embrace and kifs him. And in thefe 
kiffes and embraces Brother John enjoyed 
fuch Divine odors, that had all the odorifer- 
ous delights and all the perfumed things of 
earth been conjoined together, they would 
have feemed but an evil flench in compari- 
fon with that fmell ; and therein Brother 
John was rapt and confoled and enlight- 
ened, and that fmell dwelt in his foul for 
many months. And thenceforth, from his 
mouth, which had drank of the Fountain of 
Divine Wifdom in the Sacred Bofom of the 
Saviour, came forth marvellous and celeftial 
words, which turned all hearts ; and they 
that heard him reaped much fpiritual har- 
veft : and in the path in the wood wherein 
had ftrayed the Bleffed Feet of Chrift, and 
for a good fpace round about. Brother John 
did ever fmell that fmell, and fee that fplen- 
dor, whenfoever he returned thither for a 
great time thereafter. Brother John re- 
turning again to himfelf after that ecftafy, 

and 



214 2ri^^ SLtttle iflotoers of 

and the bodily prefence of Chrift being van- 
ifhed, he remained fo enlightened in foul, 
in the depth of his divinity, that albeit he 
was no fcholar by human ftudy, neverthe- 
lefs he did miraculoufly folve and expound 
the moil fubtle and profound queftions 
concerning the Divine Trinity and the 
deep myfteries of the Holy Scriptures. 
And many times thereafter, fpeaking be- 
fore the Pope and his Cardinals, and before 
the King and his Nobles, and the Do6lors 
and learned Men of the Law, he put them 
all in great amaze by the wife decrees and 
lofty words which he did utter. 



CHAPTER L. 

How ^faying Mafs upon All Souls^ Day^ Brother 
John of Verniafaw many Souls fet free from 
Purgatory. 

THE faid Brother John, once faying 
Mafs upon All Souls' Day, for all 
the fouls of them that are dead, according 
as the Church hath decreed, offered up 
that moft noble Sacrament with fuch loving- 
kindnefs and fuch pious compaffion that for 

its 



Saint Jfrancts ot ^niuu 215 

its efficacy the fouls of the dead defired 
above any other good that he might be 
chofen of all men to fay fervice for them ; 
for he feemed to melt quite away in the 
fvveetnefs of his pity and brotherly love. 
For the which thing, as he did devoutly 
raife aloft the Body of Chrift in that Mafs, 
offering it unto God the Father, and pray- 
ing Him that for love of His Bleffed Son 
Jefus Chrift, Which hung upon the Crofs to 
buy back fouls, He would be pleafed to fet 
free from the pains of Purgatory the fouls 
of the dead, created and redeemed by 
Him, ftraightway he faw an almoft infinite 
number of fouls rife up out of Purgatory, 
as they had been countlefs fparks of fire 
flying up from a burning furnace ; and he 
faw them go up into Heaven, through the 
merits of Chrift's Paffion, which is every 
day offered up for the quick and the dead 
in that moft Sacred Hoft, worthy to be 
adored in fcecula fceciiloriim. 



2i6 Kfit Hittle iFlotoeti3 of 



CHAPTER LI. 

0/ the Holy Brother James of Falter one ; and 
how, before he died, he did appear to Brother 
John of Vernia, 

AT the time when Brother James of 
Fallerone, a man of much fanftity, 
lay very ill at the Convent of Moliano in 
the territory of Fermo, Brother John of 
Vernia, who was then abiding at the Con- 
vent of Maffa, hearing of his affliction, 
forafmuch as he loved him like his own 
dear father, fell to praying for him, de- 
voutly entreating God in filent prayer that 
He would make whole the body of the faid 
Brother James, if it were for his fouFs beft 
good ; and praying thus devoutly, he was 
rapt in ecflafy, and faw in mid-air a vaft 
army of Angels and Saints above his cell, 
which was in the wood, encompaffed with 
fuch fplendor that all the region round 
about was lighted up with the glory 
thereof; and among thefe Angels he faw 
the lick Brother James, for whom he 
prayed, arrayed in white and fhining robes. 
He alfo faw among them the bleffed 

Father 



cSaint jfrancts of ^nniuu 217 

Father Saint Francis, adorned with the 
Sacred Stigmata of Chrift, and of exceed- 
ing luftre. He alfo faw and recognized 
Holy Brother Lucius, and Brother Matthew 
the Prior of Mount Rubiano, and many 
more Friars, the which he had never feen 
nor known in this life. And Brother John 
gazing thus with great delight, as was his 
wont, upon that bleffed band of Saints, 
there was revealed to him as a verity the 
Spiritual Salvation of the faid fick Brother, 
and that he muft needs die of his difeafe ; 
but he fhould not go ftraight to Paradife 
after death, inafmuch as it befeemed him 
firft to purge his fms a little fpace in Pur- 
gatory. At the which revelation Brother 
John did fo greatly rejoice for that fouFs 
falvation that he heeded not the death of 
the body, but with great fweetnefs of fpirit 
called him foftly, faying: *' Brother James, 
my dear father ; Brother James, my dear 
brother ; Brother James, moft faithful fer- 
vant and friend of God ; Brother James, 
Companion of Angels and Confort of the 
Bleffed.'' And thus in this affurance and 
cheer he returned again to himfelf, and 
incontinently did fet forth from the Con- 
vent and go to vifit the faid Brother James 

at 



2i8 STfie Utttle jTlotoers of 

at Moliano ; and finding him fo heavily 
burdened that he could fcarce fpeak, he 
announced to him the death of his body 
and the glory and falvation of his foul, 
according to the affurance which he had 
received through Divine revelation ; at 
which Brother James, much rejoiced in 
foul and in afpe6t, received him with great 
cheer and with a jocund laugh, thanking 
him for the good tidings he did bring, 
and devoutly recommending himfelf to his 
prayers. Then Brother John befought him 
dear, that after his death he would return 
and fpeak to him concerning his condition ; 
and Brother James gave him his promife 
fo to do, if it fhould thus pleafe God. And 
having faid thefe words, the hour of his 
paffmg away drew near, and Brother James 
began pioufly to recite that verfe of the 
Pfalms : In pace in idipfum dormiam^ et 
requiefcam; which is to fay: I will lay me 
down in peace, and take my reft ; and 
having repeated this verfe, with a light 
and jocund face he paffed away from this 
life. And after that he was buried, Brother 
John travelled thence to the Convent of 
Maffa, and awaited the promife of Brother 
James that he would return again to him 

upon 



cSatnt jftancis of ^nniuu 219 

upon the day which he had named. But 
on the faid day, he being at prayer, Chrifb 
did appear unto him with a great company 
of Angels and of Saints, among whom 
Brother James was not ; whence Brother 
John, marvelling much, recommended him 
fervently to Chrift. Then the day follow- 
ing thereafter. Brother John praying in the 
wood. Brother James did appear to him ac- 
companied by the Angels, all glorious and 
all bright, and Brother John faid to him : 
*' O deareft father, why did you not return 
again unto me upon the day which you did 
name ? '' Brother James replied : '* Foraf- 
much as I had need of certain purgation ; 
but in that fame hour that Chrift appeared 
to you, and you did commend me to His 
care, Chrift heard you and delivered me 
out of all punilhment. And then I ap- 
peared unto Brother James of Mafla, a lay 
faint, which was ferving at Mafs, and faw 
the Confecrated Wafer, when the Prieft did 
raife it up, converted and changed into the 
form of a moft beauteous living boy, and 
faid to him : * I go this day with this fame 
child unto the realm of Eternal Life, 
whence can none go without him/ " And 
faying thefe words, Brother James difap- 

peared, 



2 20 5Cf)e autlt jFlotoets of 

peared, and rofe up to Heaven with all 
that bleffed company of Angels ; and 
Brother John was left greatly comforted. 
The faid Brother James of Fallerone died 
upon the eve of the day of Saint James 
the Apoftle, in the month of July, at the 
aforefaid Convent of Moliano ; wherein 
for his merits the Divine Bounty wrought 
many miracles after his death. 



CHAPTER LH. 

Of the Vijion of Brother John of Vernia, 
wherein he knew the whole Order of the Holy 
Trinity. 

THE aforefaid Brother John of Vernia, 
• forafmuch as he had perfeftly ab- 
jured every mundane and temporal comfort 
and delight, and had put all his pleafure 
and all his hope in God, Divine Bounty 
gave him wondrous confolations and reve- 
lations, efpecially at the high f eafts of Chrift ; 
whence the folemn feaft of Chrift's Nativ- 
ity once drawing nigh, whereon he furely 
awaited comfort from God in the fweet hu- 
manity of Jefus, the Holy Ghoft poured 

into 



Safnt Jpvmtin of ^nninu 221 

into his foul fuch great and exceffive love 
and longing for the brotherly affeftion of 
Chrift, through the which He did abafe 
Himfelf to take on our humanity, that verily 
it feemed as his foul had been dragged from 
his body and were burning like to a furnace. 
Unable to endure which ardor, he grieved 
and melted apace, and cried out in a loud 
voice, forafmuch as through the force of the 
Holy Ghoft, and through the overmuch fer- 
vor of his love, he could not longer reftrain 
his cries. And in that fame hour when 
that meafurelefs fervor came upon him, with 
it came fo ftrong and fure a hope of his 
falvation, that he could not in any manner 
believe that if he were dead he muft needs 
pafs through the pains of Purgatory ; and 
this love endured in him full fix months, 
albeit that exceffive fervor was not con- 
tinual, but came upon him at certain hours 
of the day. And at this time he did re- 
ceive marvellous vifitations and confola- 
tions of God : and ofttimes was he rapt, 
as he was feen of that Brother which firfl: 
wrote down thefe things ; among which, 
he was one night fo mightily exalted and 
rapt in God that he faw in Him the Crea- 
tor of all created things both celeftial and 

terreftrial, 



2 22 jrge nettle jFIotDtr^i of 

terreftrial, and all their perfeftions and de- 
grees and various orders. And then he 
knew clearly how every created thing look- 
eth in the eye of its Creator, and how Our 
Lord is above, and within, and without, and 
beneath all created things. He alfo faw 
and knew one God in three Perfons, and 
three Perfons in one God, and the infinite 
loving-kindnefs which did make the Son 
of God incarnate through obedience to the 
Father. And laftly and finally, he knew 
in that vifion how that there is no other 
way by which the Soul can journey to God 
and have Eternal Life, fave only through 
Chrift the Bleffed, which is the Way and 
the Truth and the Life of the Soul. 



CHAPTER LHL 

How^ faying Mafs^ Brother yohn of Verniafell 
as one Dead, 

TO the faid Brother John, as he did 
abide in the aforefaid Convent of 
Moliano, there did hap on a certain time 
this wondrous chance, as thofe Brethren 
which were prefent do relate ; for the firft 

fennight 



<Satnt iFtantti^ of ^nuinu 223 

fennight after the feaft of Saint Lorenzo, 
and during the fennight of the AfTumption 
of Our Lady, he having faid Matins in 
Church with the other Friars, and the 
unftion of Divine Grace coming unlooked 
for upon him, he went forth into the garden 
to meditate upon Chrift's Paffion and to pre- 
pare himfelf to celebrate with all due piety 
the Mafs which it was his duty that morn- 
ing to fing ; and pondering the words 
of the confecration of the Body of Chrift, 
that is, confidering the infinite Compaffion 
of Chrift, which led Him to redeem man- 
kind, not only with His moft Precious 
Blood, but alfo to leave with us His moft 
Worthy Body and Blood as food for our 
hungry fouls, his love of the fweet Jefus 
began to wax within him in fuch fervor and 
fuch fuavity that his foul could no longer en- 
dure fuch piercing fweetnefs ; but he cried 
aloud, and as one drunk in fpirit ceafed not 
from faying. Hoc ejl corpus meum: foraf- 
much as faying thefe words he feemed to 
fee the Bleffed Chrift with the Virgin Mary 
and a multitude of Angels, and as he faid 
thefe words he was enlightened of the 
Holy Ghoft concerning all the deep and 
lofty myfteries of that moft high Sacra- 
ment. 



ment- And at day dawn he entered the 
Church with that fervent fpirit and with 
that felfsame anxious pang, and repeated 
ever thofe fame words, thinking himfelf 
heard of none and feen of none ; but a 
certain Monk knelt in the choir at prayer, 
which heard and faw all. And unable in 
that ardor to reftrain himfelf, through the 
abundance of Divine Grace, he cried out 
in a loud voice, and fo long he did continue 
thus, that it was the hour to fay the Mafs ; 
wherefore he went to trim the altar ; and 
beginning Mafs, the farther he proceeded 
fo much the more grew his love of Chrift 
and that fervor of devotion with which he 
was given a fenfe of the ineffable God fuch 
as he himfelf knew not, nor could exprefs 
it after with his tongue. Wherefore he, 
fearing left that fervor and fenfe of God 
fhould wax fo great that he muft need 
leave the Mafs unfaid, was greatly troubled, 
and knew not which part to choofe; whether 
to proceed with the Mafs, or to ftay and 
await what might befall. But forafmuch 
as another time a fimilar chance befell 
him, and the Lord had fo tempered that 
ardor that he was not forced to leave the 
Mafs unfaid, and trufting that fo he might 

have 



<Sa(nt jftantin of ^nninu 225 

have ftrength to endure again, he went on 
and finifhed the Mafs with great fear ; and 
coming even fo far as the Preface of Our 
Lady, the Divine Ilkimination and Gracious 
Suavity of the love of God began fo to grow 
upon him, that, reaching the Qui pridicy he 
could fcarce endure fuch excefs of fuavity 
and fweetnefs. Finally, attaining unto the 
a6l of confecration, and faying one half the 
words over the Hoft, that is. Hoc eft, in no 
manner could he go farther, hut ftill did 
repeat thofe felfsame words, that is, Hoc eft 
enim: and the caufe why he could not pro- 
ceed farther was, that he felt and faw the 
prefence of Chrift with a multitude of An- 
gels, whofe majefty he could not fuffer, and 
he faw that Chrift would not enter into the 
Hoft, or rather that the Hoft could not be 
tranfubftantiated into the Body of Chrift, un- 
lefs he did utter the other half of the words, 
that is, corpus meum. At the which he, 
lingering thus in anguifh, and not proceed- 
ing farther, the Prior and the other Monks, 
and even many laymen which were in the 
Church to hear the Mafs, haftened towards 
the altar ; and they ftood affrighted as they 
faw and confidered the a6ls of Brother John, 
and many among them wept for pure piety. 

At 
15 



226 ^f)e nettle jFlotoeri^i of 

At laft after a great fpace, that is, when it 
pleafed God, Brother John uttered the words, 
enim corpus meiLniy in a loud voice ; and fud- 
denly the form of the Wafer vanifhed, and 
Jefus Chrift the Bleffed appeared within 
the Hoft incarnate and glorified, and fet 
forth unto him the humility and charity 
which did incarnate Him of the Virgin 
Mary, and which daily maketh Him to de- 
fcend into the hands of the Prieft when 
he doth confecrate the Hoft ; whereby he 
was the more exalted in fweetnefs of con- 
templation. Hence, having lifted up the 
Hoft and confecrated Cup, he was rapt out 
of himfelf; and his foul having loft all fen- 
fual and flefhly fenfe, his body did fall back- 
wards ; and if that the Prior had not held 
him in his arms as he ftood behind him, 
he would have fallen to the ground. At 
which the Brethren drawing nigh, together 
with thofe laymen which were in the 
Church, both men and women, he was 
borne away thence into the facrifty like 
unto one dead, forafmuch as his body was 
quite cold, and the fingers of his hands 
were clenched fo clofe that they had much 
ado to fpread or move them. And in this 
manner he did lie as one fenfelefs, or 

rather 



Saint jFtancfs of ^uuiuU 227 

rather rapt, even until Tierce, and fo re- 
mained. And forafmuch as I, who was 
prefent at thefe things, defired mightily to 
know thofe things which God had wrought 
in him, ftraightway that he did return to 
himfelf I did go in to him, and did pray 
him for the love of God that he would tell 
me all. Hence he, becaufe he had great 
faith in me, did narrate to me all in order : 
and among other things which he told me, 
he declared that as he confidered the Body 
and Blood of Chrift Jefus which were 
before him, his heart was liquefied like 
unto well-tempered wax, and it feemed as 
his flefh were deprived of bones, in fuch 
manner that he could not lift either hand 
or arm to make the fign of the Crofs above 
the Chalice. So, too, he told me that before 
ever he became a Prieft it was revealed to 
him of God that he fhould but feldom go 
to Mafs ; but inafmuch as he had already 
faid many Maffes, and this thing had never 
yet befallen him, he bethought himfelf that 
the revelation came not from God. And 
neverthelefs fome fifty days before the 
Affumption of Our Lady, whereon the 
aforefaid chance befell him, he did receive 
yet another revelation of God, telling him 

that 



2 28 iFlotorrs of Saint jFrattctis^ 

that this chance fhould befall him on or 
about the faid feaft of the Affumption ; 
but he remembered not thereafter the faid 
vifion, or rather revelation, made to him 
by Our Lord. 



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